Julian Bliss

Clarinet

Julian Bliss is one of the world’s finest clarinetists, and he is finally returning to Risør. He excels as a soloist, chamber musician, jazz artist, masterclass leader, and tireless musical explorer. He has inspired a generation of young musicians as a developer of instruments in the Conn-Selmer series of affordable clarinets, introducing a significant new audience to his instrument.

Julian began playing the clarinet at the age of four and studied at the University of Indiana and in Germany under Sabine Meyer.

Julian Bliss has performed at most of the world’s leading festivals and venues, including Gstaad, Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Verbier, Wigmore Hall (London), and Lincoln Centre (New York). As a soloist, he has appeared with a wide range of international orchestras, from the Sao Paolo Symphony, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, and Auckland Philharmonia, to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2010, he established the Julian Bliss Septet, creating programs inspired by the King of Swing, Benny Goodman, and Latin music from Brazil and Cuba, which have been performed to packed houses at festivals, Ronnie Scotts (London), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), and throughout the USA.

His records have received fantastic reviews from critics. Recent projects include Mozart & Weber quintets with the Carducci String Quartet; Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock with Christopher Glynn (piano) and Sophie Bevan (soprano); Steve Reich’s New York Counterpoint; Mozart and Nielsen’s concertos with the Royal Northern Sinfonia; a new piece for clarinet and string quartet by David Bruce – Gumboots, inspired by the gumboot dance of miners in South Africa, and a recital album with Russian and French composers with American pianist Bradley Moore. Listen to his latest release, Asphalt Cocktail, a sort of lockdown project. A highly intelligent and ambitious release featuring Julian Bliss and percussionist Jobb Burges.