Kaleidoscope Elizabeth Jordan, Northern Chamber Orchestra & Stephen Barlow

• Jean Françaix (1912 - 1997): Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra:
• 1 Françaix: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra: Allegro 08:10
• 2 Françaix: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra: Scherzando 06:05
• 3 Françaix: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra: Andantino 04:53
• 4 Françaix: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra: Allegrissimo 06:28
• Johann Melchior Molter (1696 - 1765): Concerto No.5 in D Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.36:
• 5 Molter: Concerto No.5 in D Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.36: Allegro 04:25
• 6 Molter: Concerto No.5 in D Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.36: Andante 04:39
• 7 Molter: Concerto No.5 in D Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.36: Tempo di menuetto 02:26
• Concerto No.1 in A Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.41:
• 8 Molter: Concerto No.1 in A Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.41: Moderato 04:08
• 9 Molter: Concerto No.1 in A Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.41: Largo 04:12
• 10 Molter: Concerto No.1 in A Major for Clarinet in D, Strings and Harpsichord, MWV 6.41: Allegro 03:20
• Stephen Barlow (b. 1954): ‘Nocturne’ for Clarinet, String Orchestra and Marimba:
• 11 Barlow: ‘Nocturne’ for Clarinet, String Orchestra and Marimba 19:49
• Total Runtime 01:08:35

Info for Kaleidoscope

This new recording from Elizabeth Jordan and the Northern Chamber Orchestra showcases the clarinet's remarkable versatility, featuring music from the 18th, 20th, and 21st centuries. From Johann Melchior Molter's concertos--written for the D clarinet--to Jean Francaix's playful Concerto and Stephen Barlow's evocative Nocturne, the album highlights the instrument's diverse character and expressive range. Francaix's 1967-68 clarinet concerto, initially considered nearly unplayable, is a dazzling display of virtuosity. Described by the composer as an "aerobatics display for the ear," it features bright, tonal movements with intricate cadenzas and playful flourishes. Stephen Barlow's Nocturne for Clarinet, Strings, and Marimba (2008) was inspired by a commission from clarinettist Emma Johnson. Not following the traditional concerto form, Barlow was drawn to something more abstract, capturing the clarinet's varied colors and virtuosic capabilities. Describing the piece as a "journey," he likened it to the unpredictable nature of dreams, where logic often gives way to the subconscious. The marimba, first a quiet accompanist and later a dramatic catalyst, engages in a dynamic dialogue with the clarinet, while the strings form an atmospheric landscape, unfolding a narrative that feels fleetingly tangible but never fully explained. Molter's concertos reflect a pivotal moment in the clarinet's history, embracing its trumpet-like qualities and blending Baroque elegance with early Classical charm.

Elizabeth Jordan, clarinet
Northern Chamber Orchestra
Stephen Barlow, conductor
Tim Williams, marimba

Elizabeth Jordan
first studied as a Junior at the Royal College of Music then at the Royal Northern College of Music, assisted by a Countess of Munster Scholarship.

Alongside playing principal clarinet with the Northern Chamber Orchestra, she has pursued a busy and varied freelance career involving many interesting and different roles, solo performances, chamber music and orchestras including opera, ballet and contemporary music. This has led to many appearances as guest principal with ensembles including: the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Halle and BBC Philharmonic, Northern Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, Ensemble 10:10 and the Psappha Ensemble.

Highlights have included concerts at the Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Aldeburgh Festival, BBC Proms, the 1998 Halle Orchestra’s Residency at the Salzburg Festival, a rare opportunity to perform and record Messiaen’s monumental opera ‘St Francis of Assisi’. Also, many solo and chamber music appearances with cherished colleagues within NCO.

The clarinet family comprises many different sized instruments and Elizabeth enjoys championing some of the less commonly used ones. Here, the piccolo clarinet in D, previous recording with the Basset-Horn and frequent outings for the Basset-Clarinet. This has involved extensive touring throughout Europe, USA, South America, China and a particular favourite, some seven tours around Japan. For this recording, Elizabeth is playing on a soprano clarinet ‘Yamaha Custom CS’ and the D sopranino is a well-seasoned old Leblanc Paris.

Northern Chamber Orchestra
The oldest established professional Chamber Orchestra in the North-West of England, the Northern Chamber Orchestra (NCO) has a reputation for outstanding performances and world-class collaborations. Striving for excellence and musical innovation, the NCO presently comprises approximately twenty-five musicians. The orchestra boasts an ensemble of distinguished chamber players, many of whom frequently step into the limelight as soloists. The NCO consistently draws internationally renowned soloists of the highest calibre to its stage, esteemed artists such as Jennifer Pike, Martin Roscoe, Jeneba Kanneh-Mason and Raphael Wallfisch.

The NCO is embarking on a thrilling new chapter, with the appointments of both Zöe Beyers as Music Director and Sarah Brandwood-Spencer as Associate Director, and by further expanding its concert series to Chester and Stockport with a brand-new program of orchestral brilliance.

With key prestigious collaborations including the ‘Orchestras Live’ initiative, Manchester Metropolitan University Faculty of Education and Chethams School of Music, NCO reaches new audiences and broadens its horizons.

The orchestra has enjoyed working closely with Stephen Barlow before in his capacity as Artistic Director of Buxton Festival. In 2016, together they recorded ‘Mind Music’, a highly reviewed CD including works by Richard Strauss, John Adams, Mendelssohn and Kevin Malone.

The orchestra’s remarkable influence extends beyond live performances, with a further thirty critically acclaimed recordings in its discography.

Stephen Barlow
Stephen’s career as a symphonic and opera conductor has taken him all over the world stretching over nearly five decades. Engagements have included San Francisco, Detroit, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto, Florida Grand Opera in Miami, Vienna, Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Stuttgart, Nancy, Seville, Bilbao, Lisbon, Catania, Palermo, Amsterdam, Sofia, Riga, Belgrade, Tirana, Beijing, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Auckland, Wellington, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Dublin and Wexford Festival. At home his work has been with all the major orchestras and opera companies, including a long association with both Glyndebourne Festival Opera and ENO, and engagements at the ROH. He was a founding conductor of Opera80 and the Garsington Opera Festival, and Artistic Director of Buxton Festival, Opera Northern Ireland in Belfast and Brisbane’s QPO.

Stephen’s operatic and symphonic repertoire is vast, from Bach to contemporary music, the bulk of which has included specialisms in Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and Strauss.

A composer throughout his working life, his additional work as a pianist includes many recordings along with recitals of Winterreise with Mark Stone, and project work with soprano Bibi Heal in partnership with Parkinson’s UK. Stephen and his wife Joanna Lumley also produce a popular podcast titled Joanna and the Maestro.

Tim Williams
joined the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra as Associate Principal, Timpani and Percussion in 2023. Prior to that he enjoyed a freelance career, performing internationally with chamber ensembles, orchestras and opera and ballet companies. He is also one of the few UK musicians skilled in the cimbalom, Hungary’s national hammered dulcimer.

His particular interest in new music led him to form the Manchester-based ensemble Psappha in 1991, and he served as its Artistic Director, General Manager and percussionist for 30 years. He led Psappha through the commissioning of over 500 works, tours to five continents, the development of schemes to support emerging composers, the creation of a record label and the filming of more than 350 works. He has performed with the group throughout the UK, Europe, North America, South America, Hong Kong, Australia and at the Jerusalem Festival.

He has appeared as a soloist on various recordings, including Steven Mackey’s works for percussion, cimbalom and ensemble; Anthony Gilbert’s Moonfaring; Gordon McPherson’s Moses; Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade’s Patdeep Studies; and Ryan Latimer’s Slink and Stride.

In recognition of his contribution to music, Tim Williams was awarded Honorary Membership of the Royal Academy of Music in 2022.

This album contains no booklet.