Klarinet Archive - Posting 000459.txt from 1995/11

From: Claudia Zornow <claudia@-----.COM>
Subj: Ponchielli
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 12:15:22 -0500

Jacqueline Eastwood writes:

> ... Another fabulous
> piece is the Quartet by Amilcare Ponchielli, scored for flute, oboe, Eb
> clarinet, Bb clarinet and piano (yes, I KNOW that makes it a quintet,
> technically, but I guess Ponchielli didn't think so). It is really
> showy, operatic, and sometimes corny -- and IMHO, takes some true finesse
> to pull off and sound good, balance-wise, etc. I desperately want to
> program this for my recital, but probably won't be able to because I
> haven't been able to find the necessary calibre of performers.

What a fun piece this is! I played it with Connie Josias (hi,
Connie!) at the Humboldt Chamber Music Workshop in 1988, which
was the first chamber music workshop I had ever attended (though
not the last). I played the Bb clarinet part, Connie played
Eb clarinet, and we had a real comedian for a pianist. I have
a recording of our performance, and the audience is laughing
as though they were listening to P.D.Q. Bach. We had a great time.

Claudia