Various Composers - XX UK (Anastasia Schmidlin; Denis Zhdanov)

Information

• Gerald Finzi - 5 Bagatelles, Op. 23
• Malcolm Arnold - Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 29
• Arthur Bliss - Pastoral for Clarinet and Piano
• Joseph Horovitz - Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano

Anastasia Schmidlin, clarinet

Denis Zhdanov, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Prospero Classical

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The “XX UK” programme showcases 20th-century British works for clarinet and piano, highlighting a wide stylistic range from late Romanticism to modern and jazz-influenced idioms. It features Gerald Finzi’s Five Bagatelles (1942), known for their lyrical and accessible character, and Malcolm Arnold’s lively and popular Sonatina (1951). Joseph Horovitz’s Sonatina (1981) adds rhythmic energy with jazz elements, while Arthur Bliss’s Pastoral, an early and rarely performed work, offers emotional depth and simplicity, serving as a tribute to his brother lost in the First World War.

Anastasia Schmidlin is a versatile clarinetist active as both a soloist and chamber musician, with a strong focus on contemporary music and collaboration with composers. She performs with the ensemble Dissolution and in a duo with pianist Denis Zhdanov, alongside diverse musical partnerships. As a soloist, she has appeared with leading Swiss orchestras and worked with prominent conductors and composers. A former principal clarinetist in Geneva, she has also performed internationally. Schmidlin is featured at major festivals, records with Prospero Classical, and teaches at institutions in Lucerne, while also serving as a competition juror and artistic ambassador.

Denis Zhdanov is a Ukrainian concert pianist, educator, and entrepreneur based in Austria, known for his global reach through online teaching and digital platforms. His repertoire spans around 30 concertos alongside extensive solo and chamber works, with performances alongside leading European orchestras. He is also active in multimedia projects, including a film integrating piano, videography, and animation. As an academic, he has held teaching positions in Switzerland and Austria, mentoring prize-winning students. Trained across Europe, he is an award-winning pianist with an international performance career and a strong commitment to innovative, accessible piano education.

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