Toad Lane Concerts: Johanna Leung

Henry Page and Johanna Leung

Johanna Leung showed Olympian stamina in a fascinating recital at St Mary's on Wednesday 12 February, with three clarinets for the price of one.

The Manchester-based clarinettist graduated with a master’s from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2021. She gives solo and chamber performances and has been invited to high-profile festivals. She made her first own composition premiere in MIF23 at the Festival Square.

Johanna brought with her three types of clarinet: clarinet in A, clarinet in Bb and bass clarinet. The last of these is a fascinating instrument with an individual timbre but requires ‘lots of puff’. A firm favourite in concert wind bands, it is unusual to find it as a solo instrument. Johanna showed how effective it can be in a stunning performance of her own arrangement of Prelude from Cello Suite No 1 in G by JS Bach. Guardians of the cello repertoire had better watch out, there’s a bass clarinet about!

Johanna then turned to the more usual clarinet in A for Fantasiestücke Op 73 by Robert Schumann for which she was joined by the multi-talented Henry Page (who had to leave for Italy via London directly after the concert). Henry studied composition and voice at the University of Manchester, before completing a master’s in composition at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he was a 2021 Gold Medal winner. His diverse portfolio also includes singing, direction and continuo and he is the musical director of Saddleworth Musical Society.

The two made fine concert partners with excellent communication and shared interpretation.

Elegy for bass clarinet and piano followed, an evocative piece by modern composer Dirk Brossé, beautifully and skilfully executed.

Then Johanna chose the clarinet in Bb for Finzi’s Five Bagatelles. These well-known pieces along with the Schumann are central to the solo repertoire and Johanna’s playing provided a masterful introduction to the instrument.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson