Clarinet Concerto (Finzi)

The Concerto for Clarinet and Strings in C Minor, Op. 31, is perhaps the best-known work by Gerald Finzi, an English composer of the Pastoral school.[1] It was written in 1948–1949, first performed in 1949, and in recent years has been recorded many times. The concerto is in three movements, the first marked Allegro vigoroso, the second Adagio, ma senza rigore, and the third Rondo: Allegro giocoso.[2]

Composition

The concerto was written relatively quickly, by Finzi's standards, during 1948 and 1949.[3] Having been commissioned by the Three Choirs Festival to write a work for string orchestra, he persuaded them to accept a concerto for clarinet and strings, and in October 1948 approached the clarinettist Frederick Thurston to be its soloist. Over the next few months Finzi frequently wrote to him for advice on the capabilities of the clarinet.[4] He completed the concerto in time for the September 1949 festival,[5] dedicating it to the clarinettist Pauline Juler, for whom he had originally intended to write such a concerto.[3] A reduction for clarinet and piano also exists, arranged by Harold Perry.[6]

First performances

The first performance took place on 9 September 1949 in Hereford Cathedral, with the composer himself conducting Thurston and the string section of the London Symphony Orchestra.[7][5] Finzi's friend Ralph Vaughan Williams, on hearing it, persuaded him to add a cadenza to the first movement.[4] The concerto was played at the 1953 festival in Gloucester, Finzi again conducting though this time the soloist was Gervase de Peyer.[8]

Reception

Finzi's music was comparatively rarely performed for many years,[9] but when interest in it revived during the 1970s the Clarinet Concerto was the first work of his to achieve popularity. It was taken up by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and other BBC orchestras, and was chosen by several clarinettists in the Young Musician of the Year competition.[10] As of 2025 it has been played at the BBC Proms three times.[11] The Clarinet Concerto has been called "Finzi's most widely performed and recorded orchestral work",[12] and "arguably the composer's most universally popular work".[5]

In recent years there has been much positive critical reaction to the concerto. Diana McVeagh praised "the fertility and gaiety of the thematic invention".[13] Emma Johnson's opinion is that "by writing the Clarinet Concerto [Finzi] gave future generations a precious gift".[14] Ivan March and Andrew Achenbach both called it "gorgeous", March adding that it "ought to be as familiar in the concert hall as the Mozart".[15][16] Other critics have referred to it as "marvelous" and "loveable",[17] "one of Finzi's loveliest and most characteristic works",[18] and "an enduring masterpiece".[19]

Recordings

The Clarinet Concerto was first recorded in 1977 on the Lyrita label by the clarinettist John Denman and the New Philharmonia Orchestra under Vernon Handley. Later soloists to have committed it to CD include Thea King, Alan Hacker, Richard Stoltzman, Emma Johnson, Robert Plane, Andrew Marriner, James Campbell, David Campbell, Michael Collins, Janet Hilton and Dimitri Ashkenazy.[3][9][20][21]

Citations

  1. ^ Ferguson, Howard; Hurd, Michael, eds. (2001). Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. p. 4. ISBN 9780851158235. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  2. ^ Daniels, David; Oertel, David W.; Rahbee, David A. (2022). Daniels' Orchestral Music (6th ed.). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 287. ISBN 9781442275201. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Rucker, Patrick (14 July 2016). "Which Is the Best Recording of Finzi's Clarinet Concerto?". The Gramophone Newsletter. Gramophone. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b Francis, Alun (1986). "Finzi & Stanford: Clarinet Concertos". Hyperion. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Jameson, Michael (1992). Emma Johnson. Finzi Clarinet Concerto, 5 Bagatelles, Stanford Clarinet Concerto, 3 Intermezzi (booklet). ASV. CD DCA 787.
  6. ^ "Complete Works & Editions". Gerald Finzi. The Finzi Trust. 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  7. ^ "About This Recording: Gerald Finzi (1901–1956) Clarinet Concerto Five Bagatelles Three Soliloquies Severn Rhapsody Romance Introit". Naxos. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Three Choirs Festival. Elgar and Haydn". The Times. London. 12 September 1953. p. 3.
  9. ^ a b "Finzi's Rising Star: Early Recordings". Finzi Friends. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  10. ^ Barnett, Rob (May 1999). "[Review]". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  11. ^ "All Performances of Gerald Finzi: Clarinet Concerto in C minor at BBC Proms". BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Featured Works". Gerald Finzi. The Finzi Trust. 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  13. ^ McVeagh, Diana (2001). "Finzi, Gerald (Raphael)". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Vol. 8: Egypt to Flor. London: Macmillan. p. 877. ISBN 0333608003. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  14. ^ Johnson, Emma (2016). "Finzi – Music for All Time". Emma Johnson. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  15. ^ Achenbach, Andrew. "[Review]". Gramophone. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  16. ^ March, Ivan. "[Review]". Gramophone. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  17. ^ Edwards, Huw (10 April 2018). "Program Notes: Gerald Finzi's Clarinet Concerto". Portland Youth Philharmonic. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  18. ^ Svejda, Jim (1990). The Record Shelf Guide to the Classical Repertoire (2nd ed.). Riverside, NJ: Prima. p. 139. ISBN 9781559580519. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  19. ^ Clements, Dominy (7 July 2007). "[Review]". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  20. ^ "The Banks of Green Willow George Butterworth". Muziekweb. Nederlands instituut voor Beeld & Geluid. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Concertos for Clarinet and Orchestra". Muziekweb. Nederlands instituut voor Beeld & Geluid. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
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