Exploring Leonard Bernstein's Clarinet Sonata with Stuart King

One of my all time favourite Clarinet Sonatas is that written by the master Leonard Bernstein. This was in fact his first published work and what an Op.1 it is! Composed from the Autumn of 1941 to the Spring of 1942, Bernstein combined influences of the great Paul Hindemith, composer-in-residence at Tanglewood in the Summer of 1940 with his own fresh, vibrant jazz inflected style. There are distinct fore-shadows of West Side Story's punchy Latin grooves and heartfelt lyricism woven throughout this short two movement 'fantasy'. Join me as I share my love of this great masterwork of the 20th century.