Arnold: Clarinet concerto and Orchestral works Michael Collins, BBC Philharmonic & Rumon Gamba

• Malcolm Arnold (1921 - 2006): Commonwealth Christmas Overture, Op. 64:
• 1 Arnold: Commonwealth Christmas Overture, Op. 64 15:25
• Clarinet Concerto No. 1, Op. 20:
• 2 Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1, Op. 20: I. Allegro 06:48
• 3 Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1, Op. 20: II. Andante con moto 07:19
• 4 Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1, Op. 20: III. Molto allegro con fuoco 03:07
• Divertimento No. 2, Op. 24 / Op. 75:
• 5 Arnold: Divertimento No. 2, Op. 24 / Op. 75: I. Fanfare 01:58
• 6 Arnold: Divertimento No. 2, Op. 24 / Op. 75: II. Nocturne 03:40
• 7 Arnold: Divertimento No. 2, Op. 24 / Op. 75: III. Chaconne 03:29
• Larch Trees, Op. 3:
• 8 Arnold: Larch Trees, Op. 3 08:32
• Philharmonic Concerto, Op. 120:
• 9 Arnold: Philharmonic Concerto, Op. 120: I. Intrada 05:04
• 10 Arnold: Philharmonic Concerto, Op. 120: II. Aria 05:51
• 11 Arnold: Philharmonic Concerto, Op. 120: III. Chacony 03:11
• The Padstow Lifeboat, Op. 94a (Arr. for Orchestra by Philip Lane):
• 12 Arnold: The Padstow Lifeboat, Op. 94a (Arr. for Orchestra by Philip Lane) 04:23
• Total Runtime 01:08:47

Info for Arnold: Clarinet concerto and Orchestral works

Rumon Gamba leads the BBC Philharmonic in this collection of lesser-known pieces by the British composer Sir Malcolm Arnold. Born in 1921, he was inspired by Louis Armstrong to take up the trumpet at the age of twelve. Following study at the Royal College of Music, in London, he became Principal Trumpet of the London Philharmonic, in 1943 - a post he held (bar one season at the BBC Symphony Orchestra) until he moved to composing full time, in 1948. Arnold was active in many genres, writing nine symphonies, two operas, five ballets, and more than 100 film scores, including The Bridge on the River Kwai for which he won an Oscar. This album features music from across his compositional career, from Larch Trees (1943) to the Philharmonic Concerto (1976) - both works written for the London Philharmonic. His Divertimento was written for the newly formed National Youth Orchestra, whilst the BBC commissioned the Commonwealth Christmas Overture for the twenty-fifth anniversary of King George VI's first Christmas Broadcast, in 1932. The Clarinet Concerto No. 1, expertly performed here by Michael Collins, was written for Frederick ('Jack') Thurston who gave the premiere, in 1949, at the Edinburgh Festival. The album concludes with Philip Lane's orchestration of The Padstow Lifeboat, originally composed for brass band to celebrate the launch of a new lifeboat in Padstow in 1968.

"The recording was made in 2019 and the late release is probably down to Covid. In any case we are lucky to have it, it is truly splendid, aurally, technically and musically, and all involved are on great form. Mr Gamba really is a magnificent conductor, he brings great energy and rhythmic precision to his performances, and no one currently conducts Arnold as well as him. I realise I have used words like ‘aplomb’ and ‘panache’, well, the players sound to be really enjoying themselves, and what better way to brighten a dark New Year." (Paul RW Jackson, britishmusicsociety.co.uk)

Michael Collins, clarinet
BBC Philharmonic
Rumon Gamba, conductor

Michael Collins
is one of the most complete musicians of his generation. With a continuing, distinguished career as a soloist, he has in recent years also become highly regarded as a conductor. Orchestras with which he has appeared include the Philharmonia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. From 2010 until 2018 he was principal conductor of the City of London Sinfonia. Michael Collins has been committed to expanding the repertoire of the clarinet for many years. He has given premières of works by John Adams, Elliott Carter, Brett Dean and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Collins received the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 2017.

In great demand as a chamber musician, Collins performs regularly with the Borodin, Heath and Belcea quartets, András Schiff, Martha Argerich, Stephen Hough, Mikhail Pletnev, Lars Vogt, Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis. His ensemble, London Winds, celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2018 and the group maintains a busy diary with high calibre engagements such as the BBC Proms, Aldeburgh Festival, Edinburgh Festival, City of London Festival, Cheltenham International Festival and Bath Mozartfest. Michael Collins has recorded an extraordinarily wide range of solo repertoire. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 2015, he was awarded an MBE for his services to music.

Booklet for Arnold: Clarinet concerto and Orchestral works