This CD presents a fascinating double portrait of two young Norwegian artists - composer Ørjan Matre and clarinettist Rolf Borch, a performer who specialises in contemporary music. Matre and Borch explore the clarinet in a variety of settings, as a solo instrument, in small chamber settings and, finally, in a fully fledged concerto with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Juanjo Mena (now Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic).

This is Ørjan Matre’s first complete album release. It displays his nuanced sense of sound and colour, found both in his solo pieces, chamber music and the orchestral writing. Matre expertly employs 20th century techniques for moulding acoustic sounds, adding his own personal twist. In Rolf Borch these sounds find a conscientious interpreter. He shapes and communicates the music with a modest self-assuredness that does not intrude upon it.

Ørjan Matre was born in Bergen in 1979 and studied composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music with Bjørn Kruse, Lasse Thoresen, Olav Anton Thommessen and Henrik Hellstenius. Over the last five or six years Matre has received several commissions from leading musicians, ensembles and orchestras.

Rolf Borch also comes originally from Bergen, and studied at the Academy with Hans Christian Bræin. In addition to a broad classical repertoire, Borch has a strong affinity for new music, resulting in some 90 premieres of new works for clarinet. The list of composers he has worked with is long and includes such eminent names as Lachenmann, Ferneyhough, Oehring, Huber, Saariaho and Spahllinger.