Now available on the market again! Guy Deplus outstanding and authentic recording of the French "Solo de Concours" pieces together with Swedish pianist Katarina Ström-Harg. This is an unique CD of virtuosic clarinet and piano playing played by two outstanding interprets. The physical CD is long sold out, but with the new technique to buy and download digtal tracks it will be available again. "Solo de Concours" pieces written for the annual examination from the Conservatoire Nationale Supérieur de Musique de Paris. All are wonderful artistic pieces in which the performers are able to show off their outstanding musical techniques, colours and different types of sounds to perform on the instruments. The CD was recorded in 2001. Guy Deplus b.1924, one of the world´s foremost clarinetists, studied first at Valenciennes in the north of France, then in Paris privately with Pierre Léfèbvere. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique, with Professor Auguste Périer, and was awarded first prize for both clarinet and chamber music.These two professors also formed and inspired him to an original interpretation of virtuoso clarinetpieces ”The Solo de Concours”. Deplus was himself professor at the Conservatoire Nationale Supérieur de Musique de Paris of clarinet and chamber music. He has taught and inspired many orchestral- and solo clarinetists all over the world. Presently, Deplus still teaches as professor at the ”Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris”. Deplus was together with Pierre Boulez the founder of the ”Domaine Musical”, the ensemble premiered new music and collaborated with Igor Stravinsky, Messiaen etc. Deplus has also been a member of the Concerts Colonne, the Ars Nova ensemble (with Maurice Constant), and the Paris Octet. Several composers have written works especially for Deplus, including Constant, Ballif, Rivier, Komives, Moene, Chaynes. On this CD one can listen to the cadenza which Francaix wrote for Deplus in Jean Francaix` Tema con variazioni. The Pastorale et Scherzo by Jean Aubain is also dedicated to Deplus. He has taken part in the world premieres of Messiaen: Oiseaux Exotiques, Et Expecto Resurectionem Mortuorum, Xenakis: Anaktoria (Octet),Charisma, Jolas: How How, Amy: D`un Desastre Obscur. Deplus has been principal clarinetist with the Paris Opera, and has recorded numerous CD`s of which several have been awarded ”Prix du disque”. Deplus has played with famous conductors such as Monteux, Munch, Böhm, Solti, Sawallisch, Boulez, Berio, Stockhausen, Paray and Ozawa. Deplus has travelled extensively, and has performed as a soloist or with chamber music ensembles in Germany, the US, Japan, Latin America, South Africa, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Spain,Italy, Bulgaria, Sweden and Russia. He has given masterclasses all around the world, including Germany, Korea, Canada, the US and in Japan.He has also been a member of international competitionjuries in Munich, Geneva, Prague, Paris, Reims, Brussels and Mercadante (Italy).Deplus received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Clarinet Association (for "Outstanding Performance, Teaching, Research, and Service to the Clarinet).To quote Igor Stravinsky in the book ”Souvenirs et commentaries” (by Stravinsky and Craft): ”Parmi les instrumentistes exceptionnels Guy Deplus a réellment atteint de nouvelles facultés instrumentals et musicales.” ”Among outstanding instrumentalists Guy Deplus actually created new instrumental and musical knowledge." This CD was recorded in 2001. © Stefan Harg