Seeing as the flutes have started a thread on their favourite flautists, I thought I'd start one for clarinettists!

So who's your favourite clarinettist?

I think mine is probably Emma Johnson.

I don't think that Emma Johnson is my favourite .... I don't like the vibrato she puts on her top notes it freaks me out!! But I do like the way that she can get so many colours out of the clarinet - something I'm working on at the moment. I think I'm more of a 'favourite recording' kind of person - I don't judge the player but their interpretation of the piece. For instance, if it's Brahms Sonatas, the Karl Leister is great, and I wouldn't want to listen to anyone else's - Didn't like Gervase de Peyer's at all!

Non-classical clarinettists:


Yesteryear - Artie Shaw

Current New Orleans jazz scene - a really exciting clarinettist and soprano sax player, Thomas Winteler (Switzerland)

It's got to be Benny Goodman and Jack Brymer for me. My teacher, Victoria Soames as well. I've got her on CD and would love to see her perform. Incidently she is running a performance and recital course in the summer. I will post details when they are available in case anyone is interested

I'm sure we've had threads like this before but I'll just repeat my absolute favourite. Max Martin - prinicipal clarinet of the SCO. Watch him play the Mozart Concerto and prepare to be astonished.

There's also Sabine Meyer, Ernst Ottensammer, and a whole host of others.

I also saw Maximiliano last month. He is superb. I'd forgotten to mention him. He was doing a masterclass and recital at a clarinet day in Wales

I don't have a list of favourites as I'm a flautist but I'm going to see Emma JOhnson next month - I'm so excited!

My Mum likes Aker Bilk
Sorry. Beverley.

Chance would be a fine thing I don't think he's ever been to Leeds or Manchester


I've seen Emma Johnson though

Is it this course in Bath, ferretman? I saw it advertised last year and thought it looked very good (and if you go, give my regards to Roger ).

Going back to the original question, um, I don't know. I've always enjoyed Jack Brymer's performances, and have a lot of respect for Michael Collins, but, like Kate, I won't reject a performance just because it's by someone who hasn't made it into my "top ten" list; conversely, just because I like someone generally doesn't necessarily mean I'll like everything they do.

Hi Deborah, yes thats the course. I'm looking forward to it, and hopefully will be able to play better by the end of it!

Wow that's at Bath Spa - where I'm planning to go in september. Roger's lovely, he's really funny and Jeffrey is just something else! He examined my grade 8 jazz flute and it was the funnest exam I'd ever taken!

Michael Collins's Poulenc Sonata is amazing! I forgot that one.....
I have a recording of Sharon Kam doing Lutoslawski and I like that one a lot as well.

Having heard Emma J in Leeds a couple of months back, I doubt anyone comes near her !

I heard a recording of the Ireland Fantasy-sonata (just as an aside from the What is Everyone Playing Thread). Deborah you're right the harmonies are really nice! It was a Gervase de Peyer recording... I've made an executive desicion that I didn't like it, the high notes were thin and it was a bit 'slidey'. I admit I didn't listen to the end because I couldn't! It was kind of ruining my ideas of how I'd like to play it....

definately emma johnson: she is AMAZING.

WHAT... nobody has even mentioned the OUTSTANDING THEA KING??????

Ok maybe she's a little old but she recorded prolifically and was a breathtaking player. She could make a clarinet sing, dance and practically recite Shakespeare.........