Samuel Berthod- Nature Concerto, 2012

Luontokonsertto - Nature Concerto is an electronic piece of music for solo clarinet, choir and film. During 30 min, the soloist is in dialogue with a screen and public. The film, including photos and videos of nature, was shot by the composer in Finland at wintertime around Rovaniemi in Lapland and during the residency in Rauma.

According to the classical tradition of the concerto, this concerto including electronic elements has three parts: fast, slow and fast. The electronic part wants to be accessible and tonal. However the clarinet plays jazz, improvisation, free jazz, also following the pure classical heritage.

This work was composed for the clarinet and the choir with synthesizer, samplers of symphony orchestra, and the concourse of the "Variatio Choir" of Paris with a conductor Jean-Marie Puissant. Part of the voices was recorded in Rauma.

After the world premiere for Raumars A-i-R at Rauma Festivo the Nature Concerto was performed at the French Institute in Helsinki on 23rd of August and the French premiere will be at the Réaumont Festival in October 2012.

In addition to the Naturo Concerto Berthod performed Mozart’s Clarinet quintetto with Artende quartet in Eurajoki church and klezmer music with the Festivo director Jan Söderblom. Berthod also participated Blue Sea Film Festival and was a jury member in Baltic Herring Short Film Competition. Jazz concert at Kylmäpihlaja light house with Sofronoff band was also rewarding.

Samuel Berthod, a French clarinet player of many styles, started playing music from the age of five, and gave his first concert as soloist at the age of 16 at the Périgord Noir International Festival. Laureath of the Radio-France Foundation for young soloists (10 musicians on 5000 internationa candidates), he studied in Paris with Alain Damiens and then in Frankfürt with Armin Ziegler. He has collaborated on numerous albums, and also performed in France, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Canada and Australia.

Samuel Berthod has been given support from Buffet Crampon & Cie and the French Institute in Finland.