In the fascinating world of classical music there are moments when two instrumentalists come together to create an aural experience that lingers in the minds of the audience. Such was the case with the concert entitled "Clarinet Podium" on the fourth night of the "DAM" festival, where the prominent French clarinetist, Florent Charpenter, and the pianist from Kosovo, Pranvera Hoxha, joined forces to create an evening, where they some of the most popular works by French composers.
The stage was that of the new amphitheater of the University Library. Immersed in soft and warm lighting, which added a dose of elegance to the ambience, while the audience gathered in anticipation, it was clear that this evening held the promise of an extraordinary musical journey.
Last Friday's performance opened with the delightful notes of Camille Saint-Saëns, a composer known for his ability to blend classical sensibilities with innovative ideas. Charpenter's clarinet seemed to sing with its soul, ringing sweetly through the hall, while Hoxha's fingers danced gracefully over the keys of the grand piano.
The concert continued with Claude Debussy's Premiere Rhapsodie, a departure from the structured rhythms of the previous piece. Charpenter's clarinet became a storyteller painting vivid soundscapes, while Hoxha's piano created a perfect backdrop for Debussy's composition as a pioneer of Impressionism. Their performance was nothing less than fascinating and the audience witnessed this with frenetic applause.
"It was nice that the concert came as a duo, since the works we played tonight are exactly duos. So the piano part is just as important as the clarinet part. It's not just companionship. Today we played mostly music by French composers, except for the clarinet solo part, the rest was a complete evening of French music. Of course, the idea of cooperation with artists coming from abroad was very nice. It is challenging, because the rehearsal time is more limited, but it always benefits from the professional aspect and it is a different concept of how they play the music of the country and in that way we unite both schools and cultures", declared Hoxha.
The climax of the evening came with the music of Francis Poulenc, a French composer known for his varied compositions. Charpenter and Hoxha embraced Poulenc's soulful and whimsical compositions. The rich timbre of the clarinet complemented the fine notes of the piano, creating a dynamic interplay that was both lively and introspective.
What made this performance special was not only the technical ability of the duo, but also the communication on a deep level through the language of music.
For the program, which was entirely composed of works by French composers, Hoxha said that it was challenging and he continuously listened to the works and paid attention to the clarinet part. He played some of the works for the first time.
"He studied in France and of course, part of the repertoire there during schooling is very important to include local composers. During the time when we made the selection of the program, we were in a dilemma about the work and then we decided that the whole evening will be French music. Of course, it was a bit challenging for me, because some of the pieces I played on stage for the first time and it took me a lot to work on them myself, but also to listen to them for the clarinet line aspect, but fortunately this is a very good clarinetist and together we worked out the details and it turned out to be a beautiful evening".
As the concert drew to a close, the audience erupted into long applause. Charpenter and Hoxha returned to the stage, a heartfelt gesture to express their gratitude for the warm reception. Their last piece, a brilliant rendition of a beloved classical composition, left the audience with the feelings that this type of music conveys.
Charpenter expressed his happiness after the concert, especially for the warm reception he received from the audience and the organizing team of the festival.
“It was a beautiful concert and I think we played well and it was extraordinary to discover some masterpieces of French composers. For me as a French musician, to play works of French composers in another country is a privilege, especially in front of such an audience, which offered me an extraordinary reception".
In the world of classical music, where artists strive to transcend the ordinary and reach the sublime, "Clarinet Podium" was a shining example of what can be achieved when two extraordinary talents come together. The performance of Florent Charpenter and Pranvera Hoxha came as an unparalleled artistic evening, where the clarinet and the piano spoke a universal language. It was a musical conversation that transcended borders.
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