Peggy Raushenberger:

>>I was wondering who members would consider the best clarinetists
>>of today?

Steve Schwartz:

>My favorite clarinettist, hands down, right now is David Shifrin.  His
>line is seamless, long, and extraordinarily flexible.  You almost can't
>tell where he breathes.

A very distinguished clarinetist and teacher in Moscow seems to have
recently adapted the technique of "circular breathing" quite effectively
to the clarinet.  Charles Neidich spent some time with him, I believe, and
in any case has been known to use it.  This may be an evolving trend in
woodwind playing of our time.

Joel Lazar
Conductor, [and once a clarinetist] Bethesda MD
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