Anna Paulová / clarinet, Martin Kasík / piano

Anna Paulová / clarinet
Martin Kasík / piano

Program:
Zdenek Fibich
Selanka (Idyll) op. 16 (arr. for clarinet and piano)
Leoš Janacek
Sonata for clarinet and piano (ar. Shirley Brill)
Bohuslav Martinů
Sonatina for clarinet and piano H 356
Klement Slavicky
Three compositions for piano
Karel Husa
Three Studies for solo clarinet
Viktor Kalabis
Suite for Clarinet and Piano Op. 55

The clarinet is undoubtedly the most versatile of all wind instruments. In the deep position, his sound is velvety smooth, in the middle position he can sing breathtakingly, and in the highest position, he can assert himself even against the entire orchestra with his penetrating sound. It is therefore not surprising that clarinetists like to adapt works originally created for other instruments, especially for string instruments, whose repertoire is the richest. Leoš Janáček's Violin Sonata falls into this category. Fibich's Selanka is the opposite case, as it was created for clarinet and piano, or orchestra, and the violin is only a variant instrument in it. In the 19th century, the clarinet, as an instrument that speaks of desire and evokes nature, became a favorite instrument of romantics. Its heyday occurred especially in the 20th century, from which original compositions by Bohuslav Martinů, Klement Slavický, Viktor Kalabis and Karel Husa will be heard at today's concert.