Clarinet geek... LPO.... Alice Russell

So, record leopard was massively inspired by 2 people this week...

1) Patrick Messina



An amazing French clarinettist who was taking a masterclass at the Royal Academy of Music. Very musical, quite harsh (in an excellent no bull-shit way). Talked a lot about breathing and musicality and having something to say.

2) London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin



He is an amazing 34 year old French Canadian conducter - guest principle conductor of the wonderful LPO who played a fantastic programme of French music including Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2, Poulenc Concerto for 2 Pianos (my favuorite of the programme, never heard it before) and Debussy's L'apres midi d'un faune and La Mer. Brilliant.

Oh, and this great lady...



Alice Russell - Who sings with the Quantic Soul Orchestra (deffo check them out) and is very soul-y with a great voice. She sang on Mr Scruff's "Music Takes Me Up" from Ninja Tuna... (one of my top 10 I reckon)

Richard Haynes and Ørnulf Opdahl

Ørnulf Opdahl is a Swedish lanscape painter and definitely worth a look at...



... his work is being displayed at Kings Place (Kings Cross) until 26th February and it's free so please go and check it out, oh and if you have any money they cost between £5,000 - £11,000. Beautiful.

The original purpose for my visit to Kings Place this evening to see the Elision Ensemble and (after managing to disguise my stomach rumbling) I was very impressed with works by Roger Redgate, James Dillon and Evan Johnson. I was even more taken by Richard Haynes playing... really impressive control and showmanship. I will be back down there next month to catch them again, and maybe you should too.

Edgard Varese

Sorry to get all "classical" but I was amazed to come across this gem of a composer...

Edgard Varese



He's simply brilliant, concentrates on timbre and rhythm creating some quite horror-film esq sounds however still holds melodic interest. I think there's something in it for everyone, very dramatic! Definitely influenced a lot of 20th Century composers (Ligeti, Cage, Boulez, Berio, to name a few) and you can see why (if you listen) his music makes such an lasting impression on the creative mind.

He also was coined "Father of Electronic Music". He created a sound installation for Phillips in 1958 which featured the use of 400 speakers for the audience to experience sound travelling through spaces.

I recommend listening to Arcana (reminiscent of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring") and Deserts. He really experiments with timbres by using one pitch/chord and passing it through various instruments. It's truly amazing to hear a composer that plays with the different timbral qualities of the various orchestral instruments of the orchestra.

Definitely a new favourite of Record Leopard. Just one problem... just why, oh why did he not write anything for the clarinet or bass clarinet!