Martin Fröst en Roland Pontinen in Frans programma

Martin Fröst and Roland Pöntinen

Clarinetist Martin Fröst and pianist Roland Pöntinen share a rich history. Together, these Swedish musicians have brought a wide range of repertoire to the stage, from classical sonatas by Brahms and Poulenc to works by Berg, Debussy, and contemporary compositions. Fröst, one of the most talked-about clarinetists of his generation, has now passed fifty, yet you still read about his Peter Pan-like looks. In the Kleine Zaal, he presents an ode to French music with his duo partner.

The French clarinet

The French clarinet school was characterized by flexible, light timbres. These inspired many composers to present the instrument as a kind of poetic troubadour. That did not prevent Messiaen from having the clarinet reflect on the horrors of the concentration camp in his famous Quatuor pour la fin du temps . This recital features a broad spectrum, with the elegant classicism of Saint-Saëns as the other extreme. The breadth of the French spirit is exuberantly demonstrated in this program.