Nadia Wilson & Martin Butler - Clarinet Fantasies: 20th Century British Works for Clarinet and Piano

Clarinettist Nadia Wilson releases her debut album, together with pianist and composer Martin Butler, of works for clarinet and piano by Bax, Horovitz, Ireland and the world premiere recording of Butler's Barlow Dale: Four Characteristic Pieces.

It was through the Four Characteristic Pieces that Nadia and Martin first met. Each character is a cat who features in Butler's aunt, Ruth Siverns's, published book about the eponymous cat-detective, Barlow Dale (a parody amalgam of Sherlock Holmes, James Bond and Dr Finlay's Casebook).

The album also includes Arnold Bax's Clarinet Sonata in D Major, the Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano in B flat Major by Joseph Horovitz, and John Ireland's Fantasy-Sonata for Clarinet and Piano. 'I love all of Bax's music; there is a romanticism, surrealism and folk-like quality mixed with Celtic mysticism and chromatic twists and turns that is so unique to his music. The Ireland is a classic British masterpiece for clarinet and piano and was an obvious choice for the CD; it's a real duo with virtuosic, exciting and varied writing for both instruments, creating vivid sound worlds that envelop the listener. The Horovitz is just lots of fun! It's full of humour and vitality and is always a favourite with audiences. The second movement is, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful, lyrical writing for the clarinet.' Nadia Wilson