Bruno Vlahek: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
About the release
The Sonata for Clarinet and Piano was composed by Bruno Vlahek in February 2015, at the instigation and commission of clarinettist Mihael Paar, who premiered it with pianist Srebrenka Poljak at the Split City Museum on May 23 of the same year. According to the composer himself, he began the composition process – contrary to tradition – by starting with the last movement, for which he had a clear vision from the very beginning. The central movement followed, with the opening theme that he had previously saved for the actual composition, and at the very end the opening movement was created.
The beginning of the work is marked by contrasting elements and ideas, interwoven with uncertainty and indecision and punctuated by decisive and powerful piano chords that maintain the impression of obscurity and hopelessness. The composition continues with an intermezzo of an elegiac nature, representing stopped time, “reflection on the border of dream and reality, illusion or reality, through melancholic introspection, to the reminiscence of lived memories and questioning enveloped in the Spanish and French spirit, subtly hinting with the final tones the faith in resolution.” The work concludes with a virtuoso and impressive final movement, bursting with pleasure, joy, formal balance and harmony of tonal colours.
The Sonata for Clarinet and Piano is regularly performed in Croatia and abroad, and has so far been recorded on the Premiere discography releases, performed by Mihael Paar and Filip Fak, published by Cantus, and on the Croatian Clarinet Legacy by Marko Zavišić and Domagoj Guščić, published by Nota Bene Records.
It was awarded the Porin Music Award for the best classical music composition in 2018.
(Bojana Plećaš Kalebota)
HDS, Cantus, 2024.
Edition number: Can. 359-3343
ISMN 979-0-801363-34-3
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