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Fanfare

Ian Scott is principal clarinet of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, and Jonathan Higgins has been principal pianist of the Birmingham Ballet for over 25 years. Both clearly have an understanding of, and appreciation for, music written for the dance.

This delightful disc of suites from two of Sergei Prokofiev’s most successful ballet scores arranged for clarinet and piano is effective not only because of that understanding that they have, but because they both know that Prokofiev often featured the clarinet in his scores. Prokofiev also arranged music from both of these ballets for solo piano, and the arrangers used the composer’s piano reductions in their arrangements. Some of the pieces in each suite were arranged by a Bolshoi Theater clarinetist from the 1950s, Bronislav Prorvich, and others were arranged by Ian Scott and a colleague clarinetist of his, Malcolm McMillan.

The result of their work is a pair of very effective, and charming, sets of pieces for clarinet and piano. Scott plays with rhythmic flair, sensitivity, and wit, all qualities that serve this music very well. The zest with which he and pianist Higgins play “Grasshoppers” and “Spring Fairy” from Cinderella is infectious. They also capture the darker spirit of Romeo and Juliet. “The Death of Tybalt” is rendered with exactly the right feeling of menace. Scott’s program notes are informative, and the recorded sound is well balanced. This should appeal to all clarinet lovers, but also beyond that to anyone who would enjoy hearing this music in a different but effective guise.

—Henry Fogel

@divineartrecordingsgroup

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