'I can't imagine ever getting bored of it': Principal Clarinet Katherine Lacy on Mozart's Clarinet Concerto and the magic of live performance
Credit: Andy Paradise
Ahead of her upcoming performances of Mozart's serene Clarinet Concerto, we got the chance to ask Principal Clarinet Katherine Lacy about the monumental piece and her history with the RPO.
You have held the Principal Clarinet position with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for over 10 years now. What have been some of the highlights of your journey with the Orchestra over that time?
My whole time with the RPO has been a dream come true, so it's difficult to pick out highlights but I would say that one date that stands out was playing in Las Vegas around ten years ago with then Principal Guest Conductor Pinchas Zuckerman. It was totally surreal arriving at the famous Vegas strip on the RPO tour bus and having the best night with my friends from the Orchestra after the concert. I think that's what makes the RPO so special... not only are they brilliant musicians but wonderful people too.
These days, with two young children, I don't do quite so much of the touring, so my highlights now are whenever we play Rachmaninoff or Shostakovich with Music Director Vasily Petrenko.
When preparing to perform as a soloist, are there any artists or recordings that you draw inspiration from?
As a woodwind player I'm inspired by oboist Francoix Leleux – his playing is so expressive and his flawless technique allows him to do whatever he wants musically. Like a lot of wind players, I also take inspiration from great opera singers, such as Renee Fleming, with her amazing breath control, poise, projection and, again, no technical barrier as to what can be expressed musically.
You recorded the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Orchestra in 2019. How did it feel to record the piece after performing it many times live?
It was a fantastic experience to record the piece with the RPO, having performed it a number of times in various venues around the country. I have such trust in the Orchestra that I decided a conductor would be superfluous to requirements! So our leader Duncan took the reins and I'm so grateful to him for working with me so closely and leading the Orchestra so brilliantly, as well as to Andrew Cornall, who I knew from my time in the Liverpool Phil, who did a fantastic job as producer. I'm really proud of the recording and will always remember the strange mix of emotions I had on the day we made it, as I had literally just found out I was expecting my first child!
Listen to the recording
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto
Is there a particular section or aspect of the piece that you particularly connect with, or any details that you think the audience should listen for during your performance?
I think the whole piece is a true masterpiece and I always look forward to playing it and I can't imagine ever getting bored of it! The three movements are so contrasting and really show off everything the clarinet does best, as well as everything Mozart does best. The part that audiences always seem to connect the most with though is definitely the slow movement, in particular when the opening melody returns for the second time but in a quieter dynamic, which is a lovely opportunity to create a sense of intimacy.
What do you think is the most magical part of performing orchestral music live?
It is definitely the fact that anything can happen, both good and bad, which is what makes a good performance so special. The first time I performed this concerto at Cadogan Hall, there was a malfunction with my instrument and after a few bars, the only sounds I could get out were squeaks! I rushed off stage and, with the help of some friends, managed a patchy repair job of sorts but it still wasn't right, so the whole performance felt very difficult BUT I did my best to still play as musically as I could and I got through it. There was definitely a special atmosphere in the Hall and I could feel the audience and orchestra willing me on! Weirdly, I remember that performance fondly, even though it was incredibly stressful at the time!
Related events
See Katherine Lacy perform Mozart's Clarinet Concerto
