Annelien Van Wauwe

Belgian clarinettist Annelien Van Wauwe revives the golden glow of a bygone age on her PENTATONE debut album Belle époque, together with the Orchestre National de Lille and its music director Alexandre Bloch. The programme is built around treasures of French turn-of-thecentury music such as Debussy’s Première Rhapsodie, Pierné’s Canzonetta and Widor’s Introduction et Rondo (the latter two in arrangements by Jelle Tassyns). Belle époque also offers works that display a spiritual kinship to the age, such as Brahms’s first clarinet sonata, arranged by Luciano Berio, and a world-premiere recording of Parisbased contemporary composer Manfred Trojahn (Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre).

Arabella Steinbacher, Robert Kulek, Annelien Van Wauwe, Nelly Akopian-Tamarina, Denis Kozhukhin, Magdalena Kozená (mezzo-soprano), Yefim Bronfman (piano), Sir Simon Rattle, Yulia Deyneka, Daniel Müller-Schott, Julia Fischer, Yvonne Naef

The breadth of clarinetist Sabine Meyer's repertoire is matched by her dedication to collaborations with other, equally skilled musicians. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the world, earned critical acclaim for her recording catalog, and is a noted educator. Meyer was born on March 30, 1959 in Crailsheim, Germany. She received her first music lessons from her father, clarinetist Karl Meyer, and then went on to study with Otto Hermann in Stuttgart and Hans Deinzer in Hannover.

With enchanting works from composers such as Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Ravel, performances from French classical artists including Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Julia Fuchs, and romantic works evocative of French history and culture, French Classical Selections offers an assortment of classical repertoire from and about France. This compilation is the second in a series of country focused selections, including selections from Britain and Germany.With enchanting works from composers such as Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Ravel, performances from French classical artists including Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Julia Fuchs, and romantic works evocative of French history and culture, French Classical Selections offers an assortment of classical repertoire from and about France. This compilation is the second in a series of country focused selections, including selections from Britain and Germany.