The Irish Times - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

A group of leading classical musicians tell MICHAEL DERVANtheir personal favourites, offer advice and reveal some tricks of the trade

CAROL McGONNELL

Irish clarinettist

Who do you regard as the greatest living clarinettist?

I guess Id have to say my former teacher, Charles Neidich. What hes capable of doing on the instrument goes beyond anything Ive heard anyone else do. His perspective on standard repertoire, his understanding of a piece in relation to the rest of a composers output, and his grasp of harmony are really outstanding.

The greatest performance you ever heard on clarinet?

Theres a busker at Union Square station in New York, on the N and R line, who plays saxophone and clarinet. What he does on clarinet is so fascinating, Ill get off at the stop just to see if hes there. Its utterly unique. I have no idea how he achieves the sounds that he makes. And David Krakauer doing Klezmer at the now defunct East Village Tonic Club on Sunday mornings.

The best advice you were ever given about the clarinet or clarinet playing?

One of the things I always remember is Brian ORourke, former principal clarinettist of the NSO and my teacher at the time, telling me years ago not to be too concerned about what other clarinettists are doing, to put my head down, do my own thing, and not to worry about it.

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