Today, thanks to the Internet, we can all easily hear and watch hundreds of clarinettists from all over the world play. This possibility is a real wonder... Personally, I really enjoy it and, what is more important, I LEARN.
Almost all high-level clarinetists have their recordings uploaded to the Internet. Are we interested in listening to a certain clarinetist or work from our repertoire? We simply have to go to YouTube or Spotify and we will find it there.
One of the clarinetists that I admire the most is the Frenchman Nicolas Baldeyrou, an outstanding figure, who, in addition to being a technically super virtuoso, has a balanced and sober musicality, always at the service of the work. A few months ago I sent him a private message on Instagram expressing the latter, and he was kind enough to reply to me.
For a few months, Nicolas Baldeyrou has been producing and publishing on the Internet some amazing videos, both of original works and adaptations, where he plays not only the clarinet but also other instruments, with funny scenes, visual effects, and of course his clarinet performances are extraordinary. He makes everything seem easy, but what I also love is his austere musicality, that is, without exaggeration or mannerisms.
The video of his that most impacted me was the one from the 1st. movement of the Concerto by Jean Francaix (1912-1997), an extremely difficult work, in arrangement for eight clarinets. Here below you can enjoy it:
Links:
Nicolas Baldeyrou web page: https://www.nicolasbaldeyrou.com/
Nicolas Baldeyrou YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcBMAqQ2hW86KPbRV0Nttow
Nicolas Baldeyrou Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolasbaldeyrou/