Clarinova

The famous melodies from Giuseppe Verdi's operas became real hits almost in real time thanks to their touching arias and rousing ensembles. The concert fantasia on themes from Verdi's opera "Rigoletto" - completed as a paraphrase for clarinet and piano shortly after the premiere - is probably the best-known composition by the Italian clarinettist Luigi Bassi (1833-1871), who also paraphrased works by Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835). His concert fantasia on themes from "Rigoletto" has rightly been firmly rooted in the standard repertoire of clarinettists for many years and is also extremely popular with audiences. Bassi, who was himself principal clarinettist at La Scala in Milan, combines the lyrical qualities of the instrument with ravishing virtuosity in his operatic fantasies, which more than do justice to Verdi's music. Our version for clarinet and string orchestra brings the bravura operatic atmosphere of the original to the concert hall.