17 MICHEL PORTAL ∙ MICHEL DALBERTO In the specific case of the Clarinet Sonata, Poulenc composed a work that I would describe as testamentary. He wrote it at the very end of his life, when he knew he was very ill. This is not the same approach taken by Mozart or Brahms, who discovered or rediscovered the sound of the clarinet at the end of their lives thanks to eminent soloists (Anton Stadler and Richard Mühlfeld respectively). These performers were the inspiration for their works with clarinet, but there was no comparable figure for Poulenc. Michel Portal, have you played on period clarinets? Is the choice of clarinet important for the works on this disc? Michel Portal: Yes, I have played on period clarinets, because it’s an instructive experience. But I play Mozart, for example, on a modern clarinet, because you need a sparkling sound. I had two clarinets for this programme and the choice of the instrument – B flat or A clarinet – is crucial.
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