Brahms/Rota: Rota Centenary – review

Yesterday was the centenary of the birth of Nino Rota, the Italian composer mostly known for his scores for Fellini, Visconti, Zeffirelli and Coppola , though he also wrote 10 operas, five ballets and several chamber works. Leslie Craven , principal clarinet of the Welsh National Opera, here brings his lovely warm, round tone to bear in Rota's seductive Clarinet Sonata and brisk, lively Trio, both far less profound than Brahms's familiar Op 120 Sonatas Nos 1 and 2 but delightfully playful and effortlessly tuneful nonetheless.