I was privileged last night to hear a recital by Emma Johnson at The Venue within Leeds College of music, a small hall holding about 400 people, and where every one is within 15 yds of the soloist.
She was accompanied by Jean-Marie Cottet.
Emma is clearly an artist at the top of her game. She is full of youthful enthusiasm, and it hardly seems 24 yrs since her famous BBC Young Musician win.
She is presiding over 6 concerts (this was the first) at The Venue on a monthly basis, the theme being 'French Impressions' . Much of the music is French, but also composers who inspired that period (eg Schumann, Chopin), or who were in some way linked to it (eg Stravinsky), or inspired by it (eg 'les Six')
She began with Debussys Rhapsodie, and continued with the largest work the Schumann Romances Op94. Two Sonatas then followed , the Saint Saens, which was previous unknown to me, but which I must listen to again. Particularly fine was the movement which contrasts the low register of the clarinet (there's a special name for it Schal....?) for which she used a stronger reed, then changed back again for the section in the high register. We then had a wonderful performance of the better known Poulenc Sonata. I have not heard the short last movement brought off with such panache. It was in stark contrast to the beautiful second movement- what wonderful pianissimos she gets.
Three pieces for solo clarinet by Stravinsky followed, and an attractive Arabesque by the lady member of 'les Six' Germaine Tailleferre. We then had a 'lollipop', Satie's famous first Gymnopedie, admirably suited to the clarinet, though I thought played a little too slowly, I prefer more of an Andantino tempo.
Finally 'Scaramouche' three movements by Milhaud, arranged from his work for two pianos. The audience reception guaranteed two encores, 'La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin' and Benny Goodmans arrangement of the famous Paganini theme. (Benny , with Bernstein gave the first performance of the Poulenc Sonata in 1953)
Not bad value for the over 60's price of ?13.50 ! Next month its Chloe Hanslip (Violin), then Pascal Roge (Piano) in December

Sounds like she was on top form! Emma's a wonderful musician : glad you enjoyed it f#m

First post now edited as a couple of lines had gone astray as I pasted from a 'Word 'file
(You were quick off the mark reading it Barry !)

Any thread with the words 'Emma' and 'Johnson' in close proximity will attract me quicker than a bee is attracted to a flower

Emma won Young Musician of the Year in '84 : I'd been playing clarinet since '82. Her roots are also local to me. She inspired me in '84. She still does now

I was "privileged" to hear my daughter begin work on this sonata on Monday. It sounded very interesting... I didn't know it before either, but suspect I will become rather familiar with it.

It sounds like a really good concert. I just checked EJ's website but it seems that she does not expect to be in our part of the country anytime soon. That's a shame. Perhaps she has recorded the Saint Saens. I must find out.

Glad you enjoyed it fsm



The lower register on clarinet is the chalumeau (pronounced with a "sh")

Ah yes that it. I couldnt remember the word.
May I Just say also that despite the small venue, there were about 20 seats left vacant. What a pity. Id have thought it was sold out ages ago.

How wonderful. Thank you for telling us aout it, fsharpminor. 20 people must have flu really badly. I can't think of any other reason why seats would be empty for an Emma Johnson concert.

Actually the unused seats were on the back, or next to back row, I assume the tickets weren't sold.

P.S Just discovered she is giving a recital in Chester (at St Marys Centre, where we had the recent forum event) on February 10th . That date is in my diary.

Thank you so much for posting this fsharpminor. I was prompted after reading your post to check out her website to see if she's finally playing anywhere near me and she is over the next few months and I'm going to get tickets. I'm very excited as not only have I not seen her play before but she is playing some of my favourite works for clarinet. I will also get to see and hear the clarinet I am eventually hoping to upgrade to - a Peter Eaton.

Lucid

You may also be interested that Michael Collins is performing in Leeds on 30th October (Brahms' Clarinet Quintet).

Chris

Yes I would have been up for that, but I am only in Leeds Tues/Wed evenings each week. !

She is fantastic, isn't she?
I can hear and distinguish clearly her sounds on the radio. Very round sounds and she plays so much different type of music and clainet family.

We are so pround of her, she comes from our borough!

WOW!!!!! Sounds fantastic!!!!! so many good works!

Re her recordings : The Art of Emma johnson (5CD set) has some of these including the Saen Sean

Anothe good one of hers again including a lot you mentioned is Emma Johnson in concert and recital (or vice versa??) a 2 CD set.

I bought them on line and think I actually posted the details in a previous thread somewhere..... If you do a search you might find it

Details here: Post 20

Well its a year and 4 months since Emma was last in Leeds (see the first post on this thread) , and she was back here tonight, with the Schubert Ensemble rather than just with her usual accompanist John Lenehan. As usual Emma's playing was serene, but I really was not impressed by the three other players, who to me played the notes but lacked communication with the audience. They didnt looks as though they were enjoying it at all. The programme began with a little known Trio by Zemlinsky for Clarinet, Cello and Piano. It could easily have been composed by his mentor Brahms, some melodic phrases were right out of Brahms clarinet Sonatas. It was pleasant enough, but the heavy piano scoring upset the balance, and at times the cello was nearly inaudible. This in a small venue where no one is further away than 15 metres from the players. The piano lid on 'half stick' may have helped.
Then followed the Mozart Kegelstatt Trio, which many of you know is a favourite of mine. This had the proper scoring of Piano, Clarinet and Viola, rather than our improvised one (at recent Leeds event) of Piano Flute and Clarinet. Pity the pianist played a bass E flat instead of a C near the beginning, thus turning what should have been a minor chord into a major one. He made up for this with good mozartian dexterity in the last movement. In the middle Minuet and Trio, the reprise of the minuet was at a noticeably quicker tempo that at the outset.
Finally we had Schuberts Trio D929 (Violin, Cello and Piano). despite Emma not being involved to me this was the best effort of the evening, but still rather lacklustre overall.

Thanks for the report, f#m. It sounds as though you were rather underwhelmed by the concert.

I feel it makes an enormous difference when the performers enjoy themselves. It's certainly one of the things I've most admired about Emma Johnson's playing - who could fail to be swept along by the music when she's so obviously having a good time? Emma is one of the best communicators with an audience, so maybe the Schubert Ensemble just seemed poor by comparison!

I'm hoping to go and see her in February at Mansfield Palace theatre. If I get chance to say hello to her i'm going to give her a copy of my Clarinet 'Czardas' ( a fun gyspy dance similar to the famous 'Monti' one on violin!).

Bold I know, but I've decided in 2011 there'll be no holding me back!



Can't wait to hear her programme, and it'll make a nice to listen to clarinet (rather than saxophone) for a change!

Cool!!! Maybe one day I'll get to hear her perform it.... (Still need to give it some proper time myself.

For the record, at Mansfield, she is playing:

Mozart Variations
Schumann Three Romances (as at Leeds , see first post on this thread)
Weber Grand Duo Concertante
Hindemith Sonata

And a couple of 'lollipops' by Rota and Gershwin

I saw EmmaJohnson on Thursday when she ventured West

She played Malcolm Arnold Sonatina
Brahms sonata no 1
Saint Saens sonata
Victorian Kitchen Garden Suite
Tribute to Gershwin

For me the Saint Saens and Gershwin were the highlight of the concert, the Saint-Saens performance was stunning. She did the theme from the godfather and more Gershwin, walking the dog as an encore.

I also saw Fiona Cross playing last week which was another great concert, she also did the Brahms, plus Poulenc and Horovitz sonatina

Ooh now there's a name I haven't heard for a while - what has she been doing recently?

Ooh that'd've been good to hear!! I'm supposed to be perfecting last movement of the Arnold over the next couple of weeks complete with top A and associated runs.... Not quite there yet. Have to admit to liking the piece though - seems a bit cheeky in the middle . Would like to see Emma's expressions playing it...

Ooh that'd've been good to hear!! I'm supposed to be perfecting last movement of the Arnold over the next couple of weeks complete with top A and associated runs.... Not quite there yet. Have to admit to liking the piece though - seems a bit cheeky in the middle . Would like to see Emma's expressions playing it...
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Yes the Arnold is a great piece, if you don't already know it Dawn try the Horovitz sonatina this is lovely the second movement is very beautiful with a slow jazzy feel. I'm currently working on the Grovlez concertino which is also very nice



I hadn't heard of Fiona Cross before but my teacher knows her and recommended going to see her she was great and her pianist was also superb