Malcolm Arnold - Sonatina for clarinet and piano (Anastasia Schmidlin; Denis Zhdanov)

Information

Composer: Malcolm Arnold

• Sonatina for clarinet and piano, Op. 29

Anastasia Schmidlin, clarinet

Denis Zhdanov, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Prospero Classical

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Arnold’s Sonatina, composed in January 1951, was first performed at the Gallery of the Royal Society of British Artists in London by Colin Davis. Structured in three contrasting movements, the work opens with a brisk and energetic first movement, followed by a softer, more lyrical and reflective second section. The final movement, marked Furioso, delivers a dramatic and technically demanding conclusion. Marked by sharp contrasts in mood and character, the Sonatina showcases Arnold’s expressive range and dynamic writing style, presenting performers with a challenging virtuoso work that requires both technical precision and interpretative sensitivity.

Anastasia Schmidlin is an accomplished clarinetist active as a soloist, chamber musician, and advocate of contemporary music. She performs with the ensemble Dissolution, collaborates closely with pianist Denis Zhdanov, and frequently works with composers on new projects. As a soloist, she has appeared with leading Swiss orchestras, including the Lucerner Sinfonieorchester and argovia philharmonic, and has collaborated with prominent musicians such as Yuri Temirkanov and Heinz Holliger. A regular guest at major festivals, Schmidlin also maintains a strong pedagogical profile, teaching at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the Lucerne Music School, alongside jury and expert engagements.

Denis Zhdanov is a Ukrainian concert pianist, educator, and entrepreneur based in Austria. His expansive repertoire includes around 30 concertos and a broad spectrum of solo and chamber works. Recent highlights include performances with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Poznan Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Festival Strings Lucerne, and Lodz Philharmonic, alongside innovative projects combining piano with film and animation. Zhdanov has taught at Hochschule Luzern-Musik and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, guiding multiple prize-winning students. A decorated competitor, he has won top prizes at international contests in Barcelona, Rome, Poznan, and Helsinki, and has recorded works for labels including Naxos and the A. Rubinstein Foundation.

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