I've only just heard that Dame Thea King passed away on the 26th of June this year.She was one of most incredible clarinettists and recorded a vast amount of the clarinet repertoire over a long career. When I was playing and studying I found her works inspirational and stunning in their diversity; the delicacy and strength she brought to her playing was breathtaking.
I think my favourite recording of hers was the Bax Sonata although her performance of Mozart on basset-horn was unmatched by any contemporary player I've heard since (although Sabine Meyer gives it a close second).
If you totally love the instrument go and find some recordings by Thea - her clarity of tone, yet with warmth and depth, is almost unique and her recordings are still hugely relevant in today's musical world.
It's a shame we lose these incredible musicians (like Rostropovitch recently too) but they have left us a lot of music we can still enjoy.
Wow, that's a door shutting in my life because she had such a huge influence on my playing. Think I'll just go and sit quietly somewhere......
