on 15 June 2024

Photographs by David Hogg of Horizon Imaging.

It was a most satisfying and crowd-pleasing performance by clarinetist Julian Bliss and pianist James Baillieu.

I originally titled this recital “Clara and Robert” and their programme included works by Robert and Clara Schumann. These pieces were not originally composed for the clarinet and piano and have never been recorded with this combination of the clarinet and piano (or “at least I couldn’t find any recording of them”, said Julian), but weren’t we enchanted! The insanely beautiful singing lines were emotionally surging, and exquisite moments came with the most delicate pianissimo sounds and flawless velvety tones of the clarinet, masterfully accompanied by the piano. What a privilege to hear them for the first time performed to the public.

The operatic Weber’s Grand Duo Concertant brought out a dramatic change in mood and it was awesome. In addition to the musical pleasure, the acrobatic virtuoso passages were truly sparkling, in particular, those passages where both instruments played at full speed in unison displaying amazing precision.

With Brahm’s Sonata, “one of the best chamber music pieces ever written”, according to Julian, we enjoyed not only the lyrical and melodious beauty of the sonata, but also the musical partnership between Julian and James. There was an apparent mutual understanding – it was like when one smiles, the other smiles back; when one throws a light-hearted phrase, the other knows how to receive it; when one tosses a serious message, the other knows where to catch it.  And this obviously produced the ripe and matured rendition of the piece.

The incredibly enjoyable evening drew to an end with Vittorio Monti’s Czardas.