Various Composers - Kaleidoscope (Elizabeth Jordan)

Information

• Jean Françaix - Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra
• Johann Melchior Molter - Concerto No.5 in D Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.36
• Johann Melchior Molter - Concerto No.1 in A Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.41
• Stephen Barlow - ‘Nocturne’ for Clarinet, String Orchestra and Marimba

Elizabeth Jordan, clarinet

Northern Chamber Orchestra

Stephen Barlow, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: Orchid Classics

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This new album by clarinetist Elizabeth Jordan and the Northern Chamber Orchestra explores the clarinet’s expressive and stylistic versatility through works from the 18th to 21st centuries. It includes Johann Melchior Molter’s Baroque concertos for D clarinet, which showcase the instrument’s early trumpet-like brilliance, Jean Françaix’s virtuosic and playful 1967–68 Concerto, once deemed nearly unplayable, and Stephen Barlow’s 2008 Nocturne. Barlow’s abstract, dream-inspired piece features clarinet, strings, and marimba in a fluid, atmospheric journey. Together, these works highlight the clarinet’s evolution, from elegant Baroque roots to vivid, contemporary soundscapes full of color and emotional depth.

Elizabeth Jordan studied at the Royal College of Music Junior Department and the Royal Northern College of Music, supported by a Countess of Munster Scholarship. She is principal clarinet of the Northern Chamber Orchestra and enjoys a diverse freelance career, performing with leading UK orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and Northern Sinfonia. Highlights include appearances at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, the BBC Proms, and Salzburg Festival. Passionate about the full clarinet family, she champions rare instruments like the D clarinet, basset clarinet, and basset horn. Her international touring spans Europe, the Americas, China, and multiple tours of Japan.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz