Global Fascinations and Sophistications

Emma Johnson

Chamber music is the 'in thing' at concerts, astute audiences deriving considerable pleasure from studying the concentration of performers moulding their expressive phrases as one. Clarinettist Emma Johnson, past UK BBC 'Young Musician of the Year', is not only gorgeous to look at (yes, my interview was published here recently!), but has a magical way of compelling her musical partners to enjoy fine music to the full.

Mozart and Weber quintets are two of her favourites, and it has been several years since these two masterworks have experienced such authoratative performances. Creamy textures, with Gabor Takács-Nagy (late of the Takács Quartet), Rebecca Hirsch, Tim Boulton and Andrew Shulman providing loving tonal blendings, make this a first recommendation among current recordings. If Mozart's incomplete Allegro in B flat (just 4 and half minutes long) suggests an anti-climax, it will keep purists happy. Henry Wood Hall with Andrew Keener and Martin Haskell in charge means superb production and sound quality (ASV).

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