Robert Plane (clarinet) and the Gould Piano Trio

Brahms was inspired to write masterpieces for the clarinet at the very end of his career, having heard the inspirational playing of Richard Muhlfeld. At this time he was also an active promoter of the next generation of German composers, Walter Rabl being one of a number of rising stars he took under his wing, represented here by his prizewinning Op.1. Winner of the BBC Proms Composers competition, composer-clarinettist Sarah Jenkins already enjoys a steady stream of distinguished commissions, including this work commissioned by Rob and the Gould Piano Trio for the Corbridge Chamber Music Festival 2021. As a performer Jenkins revels in the 20th century repertoire of the English Romantics, as exemplified by York Bowen’s evocative Rhapsody Trio which opens this programme.