After a highly praised first volume, including such sonatas as Poulenc’s and Saint-Saëns’s, the virtuoso clarinettist Michael Collins – exclusive on Chandos – presents a new collection of pieces for the Lyrical Clarinet.

This soulful tour-de-force comprises a varied repertoire from Schumann’s romantic Fantasiestücke to shorter, cheerful pieces by Debussy and Ravel, yet always showcasing the incredibly wide dynamic range of the instrument. The album also features three Nocturnes by John Field, transcribed for clarinet by Michael McHale, one of the finest Irish pianists of his generation. Very tuneful, these pieces suit the clarinet, perhaps the closest wind instrument to the human voice, remarkably well.

Michael Collins and Michael McHale have developed a strong association, on stage and on record, which adds warmth and passionate engagement to this recording.