Bruno Vlahek composed the Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in February
2015 at the request of clarinetist Mihael Paar, who premiered it with pianist
Srebrenka Poljak at the Split City Museum on May 23 of that year. According
to the composer himself, the process of writing this piece was decidedly
unusual – he started with the last movement for which he had a clear vision
from the very beginning. This was followed by the second movement based
on a theme he had previously been saving for the right piece, and the first
movement was created last. The beginning of the Sonata is characterized by
opposing elements and ideas, interwoven with uncertainty and indecision
but punctuated by definite and powerful piano chords that retain the
impression of obscurity and hopelessness. The following movement is
an intermezzo of an elegiac character, representing a suspended time,
“a reflection bordering dream with reality, illusion with reality, through
melancholic introspection to a reminiscence of past memories and
questions enveloped in a Spanish or French spirit subtly hinting at a belief in
clarity with the final notes.” The conclusion of the Sonata comes in the form
of an impressive virtuoso final movement, bursting with satisfaction, joy
and sound colors in a harmonious and balanced form. This Sonata for
Clarinet and Piano is regularly performed in Croatia and abroad and so far
has been recorded on the “Premiere” album by Mihael Paar and Filip Fak,
released by Cantus, and on the “Croatian Clarinet Legacy” album by
Marko Zavišić and Domagoj Guščić, released by Nota Bene Records. It
was awarded the Porin discography award for the Best Classical Music
Composition in 2018.
Bojana Plećaš Kalebota
HDS, Cantus, 2024.
Broj izdanja: Can. 359-3343
ISMN 979-0-801363-34-3
