THE DANISH CLARINET TRIO Tommaso Lonquich Clarinet Jonathan Slaatto Cello Martin Qvist Hansen Piano Formed by three of the most exciting chamber musicians in Scandinavia, the Danish Clarinet Trio has given concerts in Italy, England, Wales, Denmark and Brazil. Since meeting at Ensemble MidtVest in 2011, Lonquich, Slaatto and Hansen have enjoyed a fertile and exciting collaboration, specializing in two areas of musical research and performance. They have delivered lively and thoughtful interpretations of the great masterpieces for clarinet trio, such as the works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms, while aiming to shine a light on neglected gems by Danish composers like Per Norgaard and Vagn Holmboe. Lonquich, Slaatto and Hansen collectively hold numerous honours, such as prizes at the ARD Competition in Munich, and membership in the BBC New Generation Artists Scheme in London and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York. With Ensemble MidtVest, they have appeared on several live broadcasts for the BBC and the Danish Radio. They have recorded the Trio Eco of Vagn Holmboe for DaCapo as well as several other works in duo settings for DaCapo and CPO. The trio can easily be expanded by the addition of guest artists, greatly extending the Danish Clarinet Trio's repertoire and programming options. Upcoming appearances include several concerts in Scandinavia, as well as invitations to festivals in the UK (where the Danish Clarinet Trio will be the BBC Resident Ensemble at Belfast International Festival 2018) and a US tour in 2019. For more information, music and videos visit: www.clarinettrio.com
THE MUSICIANS Tommaso Lonquich, Clarinet Acclaimed as a formidable clarinetist" (Mundo Clásico) and praised for his "sumptuous tone" and for "the mastery and passion of his playing" (Oberon s Grove), Tommaso Lonquich enjoys a varied and distinguished career. He is solo clarinetist with Ensemble MidtVest in Denmark and with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society in New York (USA). He has appeared in four continents on the world s most prestigious stages (Carnegie, Tully, King s Place, Suntory, Auditorio Nacional, Pleyel ) and is regularly invited to major festivals (Lockenhaus, Mecklenburg, Pacific, Brevard, Montepulciano, Mantova...). He holds a busy chamber music schedule, partnering with Carolin Widmann, Pekka Kuusisto, Klaus Thunemann, Sergio Azzolini, Alexander Lonquich, Esbjerg Ensemble and the Danish, Zaïde and Noûs string quartets. Tommaso Lonquich can be heard on a number of CD releases by Ensemble MidtVest and Plural Ensemble (DaCapo, CPO, Col Legno), as well as on live broadcasts by national radios around the world. Future engagements include his Wigmore Hall debut as well as extensive tours in the USA, Canada, Italy, Scandinavia, France, Slovenia, Germany and the Netherlands. Jonathan Slaatto, Cello As a member of Trio Ondine, he was awarded first and second prizes at international competitions such as the ARD Music Competition in München, the Melbourne International Music Competition, the Joseph Haydn Competition in Vienna, and the London Parkhouse Award. He has performed at The Wigmore Hall, Berlin Konzerthaus, Prades Festival, the Aldeburgh Festival, Canadian Orford Festival, and the MIDEM fair in Cannes. As a chamber musician he has been Artist in Residence at the Danish Broadcast, the Philharmonia in Duisburg and the BBC New Generation Artists Programme. Jonathan has enjoyed soloistic performances with orchestras such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Martin Qvist Hansen, Piano Danish pianist Martin Qvist Hansen (MQH) is a founder-member of Trio Ondine and of the LSH Group. With Trio Ondine he has won prizes in such competitions as ARD (Munich), Melbourne, Haydn Competition (Vienna), Parkhouse (London) and DR Competition (Copenhagen) to mention a few. He has performed in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Purcell Room, Wien Konzerthaus, Herkules Saal and Mozarteum. Trio Ondine has also been BBC New Generation Artist group with several performances in London and a residency with the Duisburg Philharmonic. As a soloist MQH won a prize in Bratislava Competition and has played concertos with most symphonic orchestras in his native Denmark. As a member of Ensemble MidtVest he has played throughout the world (New York, Rio de Janeiro, London, Berlin etc.). MQH holds a teaching position in chamber music at the Academy of Music in Århus. 2
PRESS In conjunction with the ensemble s eloquent pianist, Martin Qvist Hansen, the cellist, Jonathan Slaatto, dominated the sound, pungently playing the chords in the slow second movement and, in the third, plucking at the very top of the fingerboard for a brilliantly muted, curt effect. As Mr. Hansen s lines grew more expansive in the third-movement Scherzo, Mr. Slaatto still spurred him on with an undercurrent of urgency. The New York Times "Lonquich tore into the dazzling passage-work and soared on wings of song." The New York Classical Review "As they played, our three participants phrased wisely. And all three of them sang. On his clarinet, Lonquich was slick, smooth, and swinging. The New Criterion "Clarinetist Tommaso Lonquich made a spectacular impression both with his sumptuous tone and the passion of his playing. Whether at full cry or honing the sound down to a thread, Mr. Lonquich displayed his mastery at every moment; meanwhile his deep commitment to the music sometimes nearly drew him out of his chair as he polished off Schoenberg's demanding phrases with compelling sincerity. Oberon's Grove 3
The Danish Clarinet Trio PHOTOS 4
SAMPLE PROGRAMS (Anniversary Proposals) **SPECIAL PROGRAM for 2019** "Around Clara Schumann: Creator and Muse" A romantic program celebrating the composer's 200th birthday in 2019 Robert Schumann, Adagio and Allegro for cello and piano op. 70 Clara Schumann, Trio for clarinet, cello and piano op. 17 ------ Johannes Brahms, Sonata for clarinet and piano op. 120 no. 1 or 2 Robert Schumann, "Fairy Tales" for clarinet, cello and piano op. 132 **SPECIAL PROGRAM for 2020** "Beethoven's Spell" Celebrating Beethoven's 250th birthday in 2020, his two clarinet trios meet Per Norgaard's "Spell", the Scandinavian masterpiece for the same instrumentation. Beethoven, Trio in B-flat major, Op.11 for clarinet, cello and piano Per Norgaard, "Spell" for clarinet, cello and piano --- Beethoven, Trio in E-flat major, Op.38 for clarinet, cello and piano 5
SAMPLE PROGRAMS (Regular Proposals) Milestones Beethoven, Trio in B-flat major, Op.11 for clarinet, cello and piano Per Norgaard, "Spell" for clarinet, cello and piano --- Brahms, Trio in a minor, op. 114 for clarinet, cello and piano Classical Evolution (version I) Mozart, Kegelstatt Trio K.498 (version for clarinet, cello and piano) Beethoven, Trio in B-flat major, Op.11 for clarinet, cello and piano --- Brahms, Trio in a minor, op. 114 for clarinet, cello and piano Classical Evolution (version II) Beethoven, Trio in B-flat major, Op.11 for clarinet, cello and piano Robert Schumann, "Fairy Tales" op. 132 (version for clarinet, cello and piano) --- Brahms, Trio in a minor, op. 114 for clarinet, cello and piano 6
SAMPLE PROGRAMS (The Generations Series) GENERATIONS The Generations series of programs pivots on artistic relationships, focusing on continuity, conflict and re-imagination between generations of composers. Generations: Copenhagen-Vienna Holmboe, Trio Eco Zemlinsky, Clarinet Trio, op. 3 ------ Norgaard, Clarinet Trio Spell Brahms, Clarinet Trio Op. 114 On one hand is the link between Danish composers of the 20th century and the unescapable historical influence of their counterparts in 19th century Vienna. On the other hand we explore the relationships between master and student: Norgaard was a student of Holmboe while Zemlinsky was a protégé of Brahms. Zemlinsky s romantic clarinet trio was popularized thanks to the support of the old master, who personally advised his own publisher to consider the work for immediate publication. Generations in this context also points to the life-stages of youth and maturity: while the Zemlinsky s and Norgaards trios are works by young composers of promising creative ebullience, Holmboe and Brahms wrote their trios with understated mastery, in the sunset of their lives. Generations: Germany-Denmark J.S. Bach, Cello Suite no. 2 Norgaard, Trio Spell ------ C.P.E. Bach, Sonata for solo clarinet (orig. for flute) Holmboe, Trio Eco At the center of this program is the relationship between master and student: Norgaard was a student of Holmboe as C.P.E. Bach was a student of J.S. Bach. Of course, between the Bachs the paternal metaphor, often implied in teaching, was also a true family relationship. The music of Carl Philip Emanuel Bach is only recently being rediscovered and performed. The enormous reputation of Johann Sebastian has come to unjustly eclipse his son s work (surprisingly, the reverse was true in their lifetimes). Here we explore how these two composers treated the challenges of the intimate solo voice with inspiration and superb craftsmanship. The trios by Holmboe and Norgaard are relatively unknown even in their native Denmark, despite their great quality and poetic inventiveness. Like C.P.E. Bach s compositions, these trios deserve to be performed and heard more often than they currently are: the Danish Clarinet Trio aims to contribute markedly towards their divulgation through performance and recording. 7
Trios Beethoven, Clarinet Trio op. 11 Brahms, Clarinet Trio op.114 Holmboe, Trio Eco Mozart, Kegelstatt Trio K.498 Norgaard, Trio Spell Clara Schumann, Trio op. 17 Robert Schumann, "Fairy Tales" op. 132 Zemlinsky, Clarinet Trio op. 3 Clarinet and Piano Brahms, Clarinet Sonata op. 120 no. 1 and 2 Debussy, Premiere Rhapsodie Gade, Fantasy Pieces Nielsen, Fantasy Poulenc, Clarinet Sonata Rossini, Introduction, Theme and Variations Schumann, Fantasy Pieces op. 73 Cello and piano Beethoven, Cello Sonatas no. 3 in A and no. 4 in C Brahms, Selected Lieder Brahms, Sonata in e minor Debussy, Cello Sonata Janacek, Pohadka Poulenc, Cello Sonata Prokofieff, Cello Sonata Schumann, Adagio and Allegro op. 70 Schumann, Fantasiestücke op. 73 Shostakovich, Cello Sonata Vivaldi, 6 Sonatas Cello Solo Bach, Solo suites 1-5 Gunnar Berg: Solo suite Britten: First Solo suite Holmboe: Solo Sonata Finn Savery: Solo Sonata Clarinet Solo C.P.E. Bach, Sonata (orig. for flute) J.S. Bach, Partita (orig. for flute) Debussy, Syrinx (orig. for flute) Messiaen, Abyss of the Birds from the Quartet Piazzolla, Tango Etudes (orig. for violin/flute) Stravinsky, Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo Widmann, Fantasy for Solo Clarinet REPERTOIRE (Partial List) 8
FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS - Belfast International Arts Festival, UK (17-20 October 2018) BBC ensemble-in-residence, three concerts broadcasted by BBC. Special guest: Nicolas Dautricourt, violin - Lyngby Chamber Music Society, Denmark(November 30 th 2018) - Aarhus Chamber Music Society, Denmark (December 9 th 2018) - Metronomen, Copenhagen, Denmark (February 2018 - exact date TBD) - US tour (May 2019 - Washington, New York, Seattle, exact dates TBD) - Norfolk Festival, UK (August 10 th 2019) - Randers Chamber Music Society, Denmark (September 15th 2019) - Skive Chamber Music Society, Denmark (November 17th 2019) - Viborg Chamber Music Society, Denmark (November 2019, exact date TBD) There are further engagements in Germany, UK and Scandinavia currently under negotiation. 9
POSSIBLE AVAILABILITY FOR FURTHER ENGAGEMENTS Season 2019-2020 All of September 1-6 oct 12-20 oct All of November 5-8 dec 6-12 jan 8-16 feb 1-13 mar 1-10 May 21-24 May 1-10 june Several single days and weekends are also still available on demand, also in the coming season 2018-2019. The periods above are subject to change depending on other engagements. We can update availability changes as needed. For more information visit the website at: www.clarinettrio.com We can be reached by email at theclarinettrio@gmail.com or by phone at: +4520869935 (Martin Qvist Hansen, pianist) 10