Miniatures

With Poetic Fire, clarinetist Anastasia Schmidlin and pianist Denis Zhdanov present a programme that is as virtuosic as it is richly coloured. Featuring works by Philippe Gaubert, Jean Françaix, Eugène Bozza, Béla Kovács, Manuel de Falla, and Alexander Rosenblatt, the album spans a wide stylistic spectrum, from Impressionist soundscapes and French neoclassicism to Klezmer and jazz-inspired influences. The result is a thoughtfully conceived programme full of contrasts, passion, and musical refinement – far more than simply a collection of virtuosic showpieces.

“A listening experience of the highest order,” writes critic Ingo Dorfmüller in pizzicato.lu, praising Anastasia Schmidlin’s “dazzling fluency, incisive articulation, cantabile phrasing and beautifully even tone across the entire range,” qualities that “need fear no comparison.” Particularly striking is Schmidlin’s remarkable stylistic versatility, allowing her to find exactly the right voice for every work – lyrical, fiery and always deeply expressive.

As a soloist, teacher, and recording engineer of her own productions, Anastasia Schmidlin represents a new generation of self-determined musicians. Poetic Fire demonstrates how technical brilliance and artistic individuality combine to create a musical experience that is as poetic as it is captivating.