John Finucane has wowed Irish audiences for decades with his superlative clarinet playing. Now the legendary Irish virtuoso has committed his work to CD for the first time in his career.

12 MP3 Songs in this album (72:28) !
Related styles: Classical: Chamber Music, Classical: Orchestral, Instrumental



Details:
John Finucane has been the principle clarinettist of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra since 1995. Yet due to his orchestral, chamber and teaching commitments it is only now that John has found the time to record a CD to centre stage his abilities.

The music on John Finucane: Clarinet Variations reflects his musical interests and education. âIt is hard to resist the challenge of a piece that was described by the great clarinettist Jack Brymer as remaining unplayable until the shape of the human hand evolves,â Finucane says about recording the Françaix concerto alongside the better known Stanford Clarinet Concerto and Rossiniâs Introduction and Variations.

John has always been a champion of Irish composers and there is a really feeling of connection with the native music of Ireland on the CD As well as the Stanford composition, Brian Boydellâs Elegy and Cappricio and Archibald Potterâs Fantasy for Clarinet and Strings are included. These works reflect a true sense of place while also being utterly connected with early and mid-twentieth century musical life in Europe.

John Finucane: Clarinet Variations is a marvellous introduction to a musician in his prime. It joins a growing stable of releases from RTÉ lyric fm, a label that is getting critical acclaim from reviewers at home (The Sunday Business Post/ The Irish Times) and abroad (Gramophone/ The American Record Guide/ The Strad/ Classical Music Magazine)

BIOGRAPHY
John Finucane spent the early part of his career as Principal Clarinet in the RTÉ Concert Orchestra during which time he worked regularly as a soloist in Ireland and abroad. In 1995 John became Principal Clarinet of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and joined the teaching faculty of the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. Since then he has appeared as soloist with the orchestra on nationwide tours and on the RTÉ television series The Symphony Sessions.

John is a very active recitalist both in a solo capacity and with a variety of chamber ensembles. In recent years he has appeared at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Dublin Castle, The National Gallery of Ireland and the Festival of Music in Great Irish Houses.

In addition to his clarinet playing John is also a sought after conductor. He regularly conducts the Hibernian Orchestra and has also conducted the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. He has featured on The South Bank Show and has conducted many recording sessions for Irish Film Orchestras, Rua and Secret Garden amongst others. John has hosted a series of concerts in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and appears regularly on radio and in pre-concert talks in the National Concert Hall, Dublin as part of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra Subscription Series.


PRESS QUOTES

âIn Weberâs clarinet concertino John Finucane grasped this light yet striking pieceâs wide-ranging exploration of the clarinet as virtuoso and lyricist.â The Irish Time 6/07/2007

âJohn Finucaneâs elegant clarinet playing (Mozart Kegelstadt Trio) was effortlessly connected or articulated as the music required.â Michael Dervan, The Irish Times 30/01/2006

ââ¦how hauntingly lovely as the great clarinet solo of the Adagioâ¦[he] moulds and inflects the passage as suavely as did Jack Brymer for Previn. Rachmaninoff Symphony No.2 RTÉ NSO/ Alexander Aninissimov (Naxos).â Michael Jameson, BBC Music Magazine