Nara Klara Kollektiv

• Douglas Lilburn (1915 - 2001): Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano:
• 1 Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano: I. Moderato 03:42
• 2 Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano: II. Andantino 03:14
• 3 Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano: III. Allegro 02:26
• Anthony Ritchie (1960): Violin Sonata No 3, Opus 187:
• 4 Violin Sonata No 3, Opus 187: I. Dreams 08:06
• 5 Violin Sonata No 3, Opus 187: II. Lament 06:26
• 6 Violin Sonata No 3, Opus 187: III. Dance 05:26
• Three Scenes for Solo Clarinet, Opus 193:
• 7 Three Scenes for Solo Clarinet, Opus 193: I. Stealth 02:20
• 8 Three Scenes for Solo Clarinet, Opus 193: II. Bush Scene 04:42
• 9 Three Scenes for Solo Clarinet, Opus 193: III. Play 03:18
• Picture Stone, Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, Op. 198:
• 10 Picture Stone, Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, Op. 198: Pt1 Dawn 03:47
• 11 Picture Stone, Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, Op. 198: Pt2 Child 03:12
• 12 Picture Stone, Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, Op. 198: Pt3. Journey 03:43
• 13 Picture Stone, Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, Op. 198: Pt4. Battle 03:51
• 14 Picture Stone, Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, Op. 198: Pt5. Sacrifice 07:24
• Traditional: Worldes Blis:
• 15 Worldes Blis 03:46
• Total Runtime 01:05:23

Info for Nara

The Klara Kollektiv is a Swedish-based chamber ensemble founded by violinist Manu Berkeljon, clarinetist Anna McGregor, and pianist Taru Kurki. Manu and Anna began playing together as members of the Dalecarlia Clarinet Quintet, whose album, Fjärran, won the Tui Award for Best Classical Album at the 2016 New Zealand music awards.

Nära, their first recording for Rattle, presents repertoire from their 2018 Chamber Music New Zealand tour, and celebrates their continued collaboration with New Zealand composer, Anthony Ritchie.

Anna McGregor, clarinet, voice
Manu Berkeljon, violin
Taru Kurki, piano

Engineered by Steve Garden and John Kim
Recording in The Little Theatre, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt, August 2018
Piano tuning by Michael Ashby
Mixed and mastered by Steve Garden
Produced by Kenneth Young

The Klara Kollektiv
is a Swedish-based chamber ensemble founded by New Zealand musicians Manu Berkeljon (violin) and Anna McGregor (clarinet). The ensemble's first constellation, the Dalecarlia Clarinet Quintet, came together in 2014 when the group performed a concert tour with Chamber Music New Zealand and recorded the album 'Fjärran - in the distance'. In 2018 Manu and Anna invited Finnish pianist Taru Kurki to join them and returned to New Zealand as a trio.

The ensemble intentionally programmes a varied repertoire of old and new, with an emphasis on music by New Zealand composers. Their most recent collaboration has been the performance and recording of three new pieces written for them by composer Anthony Ritchie.

Anna McGregor
New Zealand clarinettist Anna moved to Sweden in 2010 to study for her Master’s Degree at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. She has performed with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and the Swedish Radio Orchestra, and currently holds the position of associate principal clarinet at Wermland Opera in Karlstad. Anna maintains her ‘Kiwi-connection’ by actively performing and recording the work of New Zealand composers.

Manu Berkeljon
Born and raised on the West Coast of New Zealand, Manu orchestral career includes contracts with the NZSO, Sydney Symphony, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, and since 2011 has occupied an associate principle chair with DalaSinfoniettan. A devoted chamber musician, she performs with numerous chamber ensembles. As a soloist Manu has performed with the NZSO, Cape Town Philharmonic, and orchestras in Australia and Sweden.

Taru Kurki
Born in Finland, Taru is a passionate soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. She has a Bachelor of Music from Helsinki, and a Master of Music from the Royal College of Music/Edsberg in Stockholm. In addition to travelling to New Zealand with the Klara Kollektiv, she has performed extensively throughout Northern Europe and the Baltic countries. Since August 2012 she has held the position of Head of Piano at the Falun Music Conservatory in Sweden.

This album contains no booklet.