This new recording from Elizabeth Jordan and the Northern Chamber Orchestra showcases the clarinet’s remarkable versatility, featuring music from the 18th, 20th, and 21st centuries. From Johann Melchior Molter’s concertos – written for the D clarinet – to Jean Françaix’s playful Concerto and Stephen Barlow’s evocative Nocturne, the album highlights the instrument’s diverse character and expressive range.

Françaix’s 1967-68 Clarinet Concerto, initially considered nearly unplayable, is a dazzling display of virtuosity. Described by the composer as an “aerobatics display for the ear,” it features bright, tonal movements with intricate cadenzas and playful flourishes.

Stephen Barlow’s Nocturne for Clarinet, Strings, and Marimba (2008) was inspired by a commission from clarinettist Emma Johnson. Not following the traditional concerto form, Barlow was drawn to something more abstract, capturing the clarinet’s varied colours and virtuosic capabilities. Describing the piece as a “journey,” he likened it to the unpredictable nature of dreams, where logic often gives way to the subconscious. The marimba, first a quiet accompanist and later a dramatic catalyst, engages in a dynamic dialogue with the clarinet, while the strings form an atmospheric landscape, unfolding a narrative that feels fleetingly tangible but never fully explained.

Molter’s concertos reflect a pivotal moment in the clarinet’s history, embracing its trumpet-like qualities and blending Baroque elegance with early Classical charm.