Jean-Guy Boisvert, Quatuor Bozzini - Le Livre des Melancolies (2008)

Clarinetist Jean-Guy Boisvert has devoted a substantial portion of his career to the advancement of new music for his instrument, in particular compositions by is fellow Canadians. This ATMA album features three such works, two of which were commissioned by Boisvert himself. Boisvert is joined by the Canadian string quartet Quatuor Bozzini. The two pieces commissioned by Boisvert, by composers Piotr Grella-Mozejko and Tim Brady, are titled as works for clarinet plus string quartet and clearly allow the clarinet to dominate and use the string quartet primarily as an accompanimental feature. Jean Lesage's Le Livre des Melancolies demonstrates a more symbiotic relationship between all five players. Throughout the album, Boisvert exhibits a stunning technique and command of his instrument, easily tossing off the most demanding of passagework and exploring the incredible range of his instrument. His tone, except for passages in the extreme upper register, is warm and velvety. The same cannot always be said of his string companions, whose sound quality is generally quite nasal, never quite matching the color Boisvert lays out. Interplay and ensemble between clarinet and strings is typically tight and well-rehearsed and even when playing in unison or octaves, pitch is usually matched well.