Why I Chose Backun
"The Lumière is the modern day Stradivarius of the clarinet world."
About
Clarinettist Peter Cigleris is in demand as a soloist and chamber musician.
Peter has appeared on BBC Radio Three’s ‘In Tune’ programme talking with Sean Rafferty and on a separate playing live with the Tippett Quartet. He has also performed live for the BBC in the Radio Three lunchtime recital. Peter has worked with Martin Cousins, Mark Bebbington, Julian Lloyd Webber performing for various music clubs and festivals around the UK including, the Windsor and Wooburn Festival, English Music Festival, Carlisle International Music Festival. Peter is a member of ‘Chamber Music Box’ presenting innovative chamber music programmes in London and the surrounding areas.
Internationally Peter has performed at the Groba Festival in Spain, chamber recitals in France, Netherlands and the US. Concerto appearances include Belgium for the ICA ‘ClarinetFest’ where he gave the world premiere of Peter Wishart’s ‘Serenata Concertante eighty-one years after composition. Italy with Weber’s Concertino, Romania and Mexico with Mozart’s sublime concerto K. 622. While in Mexico Peter also gave the Mexican premiere of Malcolm Arnold’s Second Clarinet Concerto. Most recently Peter was invited to perform in Gyor, Hungary for the European Clarinet Festival and gave the US premiere of Susan Spain-Dunk’s Poem Cantilena with the Reno Philharmonic.
Peter’s interest in the English clarinet repertoire has seen him premier concertos and chamber music by Gipps, Benjamin, Spain-Dunk as well as contemporaries such as Lloyd Moore and Peter Seabourne and many others.
As a solo recording artist Peter has a growing discography. Peter’s most recent release ‘Rediscovered’ on the Cala Signum label has Peter feature as soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales featuring four British clarinet concertos, of which three are world premiere recordings. The disc has received extremely well received by reviewers and listeners alike. Peter has featured on discs for Cala Records, Heritage Records and Toccata Classics.
As an orchestral player Peter has worked with several well-known English orchestras as well as being involved various session recordings. Peter has also held the principal clarinet seat with the Symphony Orchestra of India and has worked with conductors such as Charles Dutoit and Rafael Payare amongst others.
Peter studied at both the Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal College of Music. Whilst at the Conservatoire, Peter won the prestigious John Ireland Chamber music award with a performance of that composer’s Fantasy Sonata. Peter also performed Malcolm Arnold’s Second Clarinet Concerto as part of the composer’s eightieth birthday celebrations. Whilst completing his postgraduate studies at the ‘RCM’ Peter was awarded the Prix de Fossat and was invited to Cahors, France to present a recital for Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark at a private reception.
Peter maintains a private teaching studio with many students gaining their ABRSM grade 8 as well as the ARSM often passing with distinction. During the summer months Peter can found tutoring on the Exmouth Summer School. For the last few years Peter has been invited to be a member of the international jury for the ‘Silverstein Clarinet Contest’ and the ‘Music and Stars Competition’.
“This is a fresh and impressively pleasing collection which mixes the usual and the unusual to good effect with more of the latter than the former. “Rob Barnett Musicweb-International
“…this pairing is not lacking, and they bring nuance and insight to bear, as well as fine tone and ensemble…” Jonathan Woolf Musicweb-International
“The performances are marvellous… with Peter Cigleris the pick…” Guy Rickards Gramophone April 2019
“… a rich, consistent tone and splendidly mellifluous phrasing…” Jessica Duchen BBC Music Magazine April 2021
“… played with tremendous care by Peter Cigleris…” Flora Wilson, The Guardian March 2021
“Faster passages are well executed, and the melodic lines sing out… All the performances are solid and assured…” Stephanie Reeve, Clarinet and Saxophone, Summer 2021
Peter is a proud artist for Backun, D’Addario, Silverstein Works and Carbonissimo Spain and Chedeville.
Photo Credit: Timothee Botbol
