Internationally renowned clarinetist Carol McGonnell has been celebrated for her captivating performances, expressive interpretations, versatility, and phenomenal technique.
She has performed with leading orchestras and ensembles worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician in both classical and contemporary repertoire, and has premiered numerous major new works for the instrument. Her commitment to expanding the clarinet’s musical boundaries has led her to collaborate with prominent composers and major artists including the JACK Quartet, the Modigliani Quartet, Jonathan Biss, Kit Armstrong, Midori, Daniel Hope, Barbara Hannigan and Frederica von Stade. A passionate advocate for music education, she is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of musicians through her teaching and mentorship, and is on the auxiliary faculty of the Juilliard School.
Urlicht AudioVisual is excited to release Carol’s debut solo recording, which focuses on unaccompanied music for clarinet(s) from the early 20th century to today, including her realization of Steve Reich’s New York Counterpoint playing all eleven parts, and the world premiere recording of Allain Gaussin’s La Chevelure de Bérénice.
Allain Gaussin: Satori (8:49)
Steve Reich: New York Counterpoint (10:48)
Béla Kovács: Hommages
–À Falla (3:46)
–À Kodály (3:21)
–A Khachaturian (3:02)
Igor Stravinsky: Three Pieces for Clarinet
–I. ♩ = 52; Sempre piano e molto tranquillo (1:29)
–II. ♩ = 168 (1:01)
–III. ♩ = 160 (1:10)
Jörg Widmann: Fantasie (8:03)
Karlheinz Stockhausen: In Freundschaft (11:16)
Allain Gaussin: La Chevelure de Bérénice (3:00)
Carol McGonnell, clarinet(s)
recorded 2020-2024 in Berlin and New York City
Produced for Urlicht AudioVisual by Carol McGonnell and Gene Gaudette
Thanks to the many people at Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Berlin-Dahlem, Emil Berliner Studios, Mendelssohn Remise, Scholes Street
Studio, Centre Français de Berlin, Tonstudio Peter Rahe, and Bisondisc who made this release possible.
Special thanks for
• support from Ciara Higgins and the Dublin International Chamber Festival
• support from Michel Galante and the Argento New Music Project
Album cover and design by Michael Hanuschik