Roots

Martin Fröst is the world's leading clarinetist, one of classical music's finest and most charismatic artists. The first album under Sony Classical's new exclusive contract explores the origins of music: "Roots" presents works with orchestral and choral accompaniment and some pieces for solo clarinet. The recording was made with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the Adolf Fredriks Girls Choir. In addition to original compositions, new arrangements and transcriptions can be heard, as well as commissioned compositions especially for this project. Fröst's fascinating musical journey begins with Gregorian chants and pieces by Hildegard von Bingen and Telemann and leads through gypsy music, klezmer and folk music of various countries, tango (Piazolla) and classical music (Brahms "Hungarian Dance No. 14," Schumann's "Five Pieces in Folk Tone," Bartok's "Romanian Volsk Dances") to new works by Hans Ek, Göran Fröst and Anders Hillborg. Fröst presents this varied program with bold, virtuosic brilliance. "If you haven't heard Martin Fröst, you don't know the clarinet," wrote the Times, and the New York Times praised, "The way he masters his instrument seems almost supernatural."