Inter Quartet "Clarinetissimo!". Bachiazzola. (2CD). /digi-pack/.

Our visitors, probably, remember the chic – without overstatement – triptych release by the Kyiv saxophone quartet "Bravo, Sax!" focused on comprehensive illustration of the role to the saxophone in development of world music. Well, and now we are happy to note: the worthy idea has its worthy continuation, at that it was implemented with no less scope than the previous one. However, this time it is a diptych – a two-disc release – but. The very fact of origin of the Inter Quartet "Clarinetissimo!" deserves respect, as for the sake of this project musicians from four countries – Belgium, France, Switzerland, Ukraine (by the way, Ukraine is represented by Yuri Vasylevych, the founder and leader of the mentioned Kyiv quartet of saxophonists) – came together, and it could not be that easy. However, the scale of the project lies not only in geography – to make sure of that, it is enough to just look through the list of pieces. It is pleasant to indicate that there are also author compositions by participants of the Inter Quartet. And the very name of the release is eloquent: Bachiazzola – that is, from the "golden" classics incarnated by Bach and to modern poly-stylistics, which intertwines variety art, jazz and folklore, incarnated by Piazzolla. In this sense, the clarinet today is one of the most versatile instruments – and, by the way, three hundred years ago composers, as a rule, did not dare to risk including it into orchestras. However, such attitude did not last long – during the recent two hundred years, the clarinet has been one of main voices of both folk and author music on our planet. In my opinion, this is absolutely natural. Its ability to convey the most delicate emotional tints and states, from a hotshot scream to tender whisper, from merry laughter with sad eyes to an act of magic, from the bazaar of nightclubs to universal clarity – strikes. Actually, I would not undertake naming another wind instrument able to so authentically convey the very combination of joy and sadness, or, at the same time, remote contemplation and thirst for life. Each of these states separately – yes, there are options, and quite a lot. And in the harmonious combination – well, maybe, the French horn, and that’s it... However, that already depends on musicians’ skills – and skills of the Inter Quartet raises no doubt. It is pleasant to take this release in hands not only due to the great design, its contents is a lace of real, delicately decorated music gems.