The Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo’s 2004 debut in Boston immediately established the Duo as one of the great chamber music ensemble in the United States. They have toured to great acclaim throughout the United States. The Duo is dedicated to expanding the repertoire for clarinet and piano by commissioning new works, including the recent “Four Rags for Two Jons,” which is on this program. They also have several recordings, including the 2008 CD of Brahms’s Clarinet Sonatas and the 2010 All-American CD. Jon Nakamatsu was the Gold Medalist in the 10th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition; Jon Manasse has served as the principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and also teaches at The Juilliard School. (This performance was recorded on 4/20/2012)
Program, Part 1
- Johannes Brahms: Sonata in f minor for Clarinet & Piano, Op. 120, No. 1
- Claude Debussy: Première rapsodie for Clarinet & Piano
- Frédéric Chopin: Andante Spianato & Grand Polonaise, Op. 22 [Mr. Nakamatsu]
Listen to Part 1
Program, Intermission
- Interview with music – Paquito D’Rivera: Benny @100 (The Cape Cod Files)
Listen to the Intermission
Program, Part 2
- Leonard Bernstein: Sonata for Clarinet & Piano (1941-42)
- Paquito D’Rivera: Lecuonerias from The Cape Code Files [Mr. Manasse]
- John Novacek: Four Rags for Two Jons
- George Gershwin: I’ve Got Rhythm (encore)
Listen to Part 2