Richard Stoltzman Biography

Richard Stoltzman was born in Omaha, NE, in 1942 to a father who played the saxophone. He grew up in San Francisco and Cincinnati, and pursued degrees in music and math at Ohio State; he earned his music master's at Yale and studied for his doctorate at Columbia. Stoltzman began to make his name as a professional through Vermont's chamber-music-oriented Marlboro Music Festival, where he debuted in 1967 (the first of ten straight appearances) and began making the contacts that would lead him to co-found the chamber ensemble TASHI in 1973.

In the years that followed, Stoltzman achieved a number of firsts: he performed the first clarinet recitals ever held at the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall; he was the first performer to feature jazz in a program at Wagner's legendary Bayreuth Opera House; and he became the first wind player to win the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize in 1986. He appeared as a soloist with a number of major symphonies, and also performed at international jazz festivals, as well as with jazz and pop stars Mel Tormé, George Shearing, Judy Collins, Woody Herman, Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett, and the Canadian Brass, among others. In the early '90s, Stoltzman began commissioning and premiering new works for clarinet, and was also featured in the BBC's acclaimed 1993 series Concerto!, performing Aaron Copland's "Clarinet Concerto" with the London Symphony Orchestra. Through most of the '90s, Stoltzman recorded for RCA Victor, blending jazz, classical, and new age sounds, and frequently working with pianist/arranger Bill Douglas; Begin Sweet World was his artistic breakthrough and most popular recording. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide (here)

Background information
Born July 12, 1942 (1942-07-12) (age 66)
Omaha, Nebraska
Instrument(s) Clarinet
Richard Stoltzman (b. July 12, 1942) is an American clarinetist. Born Richard Leslie Stoltzman in Omaha, Nebraska, he spent his early years in San Francisco, California and Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from Woodward High School in 1960. Today, Stoltzman is part of the faculty list at the New England Conservatory. His notable students include Bharat Chandra and Michael Norsworthy.

Stoltzman is perhaps the most well-known clarinetist who primarily plays classical music. He has played with over 100 orchestras, as well as with many chamber groups and in many solo recitals. Stoltzman has received numerous awards and has produced an extensive discography. His virtuosity and musicianship have made him a highly sought-after concert artist.

In addition to classical repertoire, Stoltzman also plays jazz. Some of his recordings, such as his album "New York Counterpoint," feature both jazz and modern music. In 1983, Stoltzman commissioned composer/arranger Clare Fischer to write a symphonic work using Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn themes. The result was "The Duke, Swee'pea and Me", an eleven-minute orchestral work which Stoltzman performed worldwide.(More)

Clarinetist Richard Stoltzman's virtuosity, musicianship and sheer personal magnetism have made him one of today's most sought-after concert artists. As soloist with more than a hundred orchestras, as a captivating recitalist and chamber music performer, as an innovative jazz artist and appearances on nearly fifty recordings, Stoltzman has defied categorization, dazzling critics and audiences alike throughout many musical genres. Recent releases include Nielsen, Prokofiev and Lutoslawski with the Warsaw Philharmonic conducted by Lawrence Leighton Smith (BMG/RCA), the Skrowaczewski Concerto with the Saarbrucken Radio Orchestra, conducted by the composer (Albany), and the acclaimed recording of Hartke's 揕andscapes with Blues?with IRIS, conducted by Michael Stern (Naxos), a New York Times 揃est of 2003? Rautavaara's Clarinet Concerto is forthcoming on Ondine in the 2004-05 season. (here)

Richard Stoltzman's virtuosity, musicianship and sheer personal magnetism have catapulted him to the highest ranks of international acclaim, making him one of today's most sought-after concert artists. As a soloist with more than a hundred orchestras, a captivating recitalist and chamber music performer, and an innovative jazz artist, Stoltzman has defied categorization, dazzling critics and audiences alike with his performances of all genres of music.

Thank you again for the pdf files of Once upon a time in America.
If you are collecting performances of Morricones music, I will search for it. I only know right now of Richard Stoltzman who played Cinema Paradiso. I will try to send an mp3 of this one...