Alexandre Bloch, Orchestre National De Lille, Annelien van Wauwe - Belle époque (2019) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Belgian clarinettist Annelien Van Wauwe revives the golden glow of a bygone age on her PENTATONE debut album Belle époque, together with the Orchestre National de Lille and its music director Alexandre Bloch. The programme is built around treasures of French turn-of-thecentury music such as Debussy’s Première Rhapsodie, Pierné’s Canzonetta and Widor’s Introduction et Rondo (the latter two in arrangements by Jelle Tassyns). Belle époque also offers works that display a spiritual kinship to the age, such as Brahms’s first clarinet sonata, arranged by Luciano Berio, and a world-premiere recording of Parisbased contemporary composer Manfred Trojahn (Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre).

Annelien van Wauwe is a former BBC New Generation Artist and winner of the renowned Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award 2018. She kickstarts an exclusive collaboration with PENTATONE with this first solo album. The Orchestre National de Lille and Alexandre Bloch release their second PENTATONE album, after their 2018 recording of Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de perles, crowned with a Diapason d’or.

Tracklist:
1. Première rhapsodie, L. 116 (Version for Clarinet & Orchestra)
2. Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre: I. Rêverie
3. Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre: II. Intermède avec valse à la musette
4. Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre: III. Caprice
5. Canzonetta in E-Flat Major, Op. 19 (Arr. J. Tassyns for Clarinet & Orchestra)
6. Clarinet Sonata in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1 (Arr. L. Berio for Clarinet & Orchestra): I. Allegro appassionato
7. Clarinet Sonata in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1 (Arr. L. Berio for Clarinet & Orchestra): II. Andante un poco adagio
8. Clarinet Sonata in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1 (Arr. L. Berio for Clarinet & Orchestra): III. Allegretto grazioso
9. Clarinet Sonata in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1 (Arr. L. Berio for Clarinet & Orchestra): IV. Vivace
10. Introduction et rondo, Op. 72 (Arr. J. Tassyns for Clarinet & Orchestra)

Personnel:
Annelien Van Wauwe (clarinet)
Orchestre National de Lille
Alexandre Bloch (conductor)