Two-time Grammy winner RICHARD STOLTZMAN has done for the
clarinet what JEAN-PIERRE RAMPAL
did for the flute - bring the reed to the forefront as a solo
instrument - of rich tones and many colors. Thus, to classical
music enthusiasts, his name is synonymous with the clarinet.
He gave the first clarinet
recitals in the histories of both the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie
Hall. In 1986, he became the first wind player to be awarded
the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize. Primarily a clarinetist
who performs mainly classical music (as a solo artist or in
collaboration with such greats as Yo-Yo Ma, Emmanuel Ax, Richard
Goode, Menahem Pressler), he is a virtuoso whose repertoire
spans across musical genres and has performed with the greats
of jazz and pop (e.g., Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez,
Judy Collins). A prolific recording artist with over 40 recordings
to his credit, he is also well known for his collaborations
with contemporary composers such as Steve Reich, Toru Takemitsu,
adn Lukas Foss, among others.
The video excerpts below give
one a good insight into the artist who revolutionized the
clarinet and of whom the New York Times has one succinct description:
"ONE OF KIND" - nothing could be more apt!
STOLTZMAN
: On Composers
STOLTZMAN:
The Bach Project
STOLTZMAN
and KEITH JARRETT, piano
[Note: Background music is excerpted
from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto,
with Richard Stoltzman playing the clarinet and conducting the
English Chamber Orchestra]
