Buffet Crampon 180th Anniversary Concert

The 180th anniversary concert of clarinet guru Buffet Crampon had filled audiences with awe. Held at the concert hall of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on May 16, the concert had brought together world-renowned clarinet soloists Nicholas Baldeyrou and Andrew Simon, who had chosen two of the Buffet Crampon clarinets to perform eight pieces of music.

An exhibition that introduced the Buffet Crampon history and its clarinets was held before the concert, to allow the audiences to know more about this world famous brand.

The Concert

Nicholas, aged 25, is the Principal Clarinet at the National Orchestra of France. He chose the Festival Clarinet of the Buffet Crampon R13 at the concert for the unique warmth, depth and richness of its sound.

“Clarinet is a very typical French sound,” Nicholas said. “Clarinets produced in France are different from made in the US, the UK, and China in the texture of their sounds. Buffet Crampon clarinets are made by great music teachers in France, and capture the very essence of French music.”

He delighted the audience with a melodious and lively performance. The musician’s favorite piece was the opening piece, the Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by F. Poulenc, which is short and technically interesting, accompanied by Hong Kong-born pianist Warren Lee.  

The first movement was carried in brilliantly allegro, contrasting the slow, poignant melancholy of the second movement. The music ended on a dramatic third movement which showcased the versatility of the instrument by a series of dynamic, powerful variations.

Nicholas had joined hands with Andrew in the second piece, Second Koncertstück for Two Clarinets by F. Medelssohn.

Andrew is the Principal Clarinet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and the National Chairperson of the International Clarinet Association.

He chose Buffet Crampon R13, the legendary choice of professional musicians. The instrument is famous of its rich, focused sound, and flexibility, which was fully showcased in the Two Dances for the Andrew Simon, composed for the musician by Serban Nichifor.

“It was written under the influence of Romania folk,” Andrew said. “It is a mix of classical and East European folk.” 

The song is a fun, wild, extra-ordinary piece featuring complicated rhythms and creative, colorful harmonies. Though technically demanding, it was well-executed by Andrew with his “god-like technique”. His exuberant playing dazzled the audience, exploiting the wide range of intonations and textures of the instrument to the full.

The concert closed with Nicolas’ solo play of Introduction, Theme and Variations by Rossini. The clarinet carried attractive warmth throughout the singing melodies of the song, which were sometimes nostalgic, even fragile. And Nicolas had played it with a beautiful charming tone.

Following this Hong Kong concert, Nicolas will tour to Taiwan in September. “Hong Kong people are very nice and energetic,” he said. “I am glad to have the chance to introduce French culture to Asian people through clarinet.”

The History

Beginning with a humble workshop in Paris dated back to 1825, Denis Buffet-Auger, the clarinet maker, quickly gained a reputation for making an excellent 13-key clarinet. The brand name Buffet Crampon was created in 1836 when Denis's son, Jean-Louis, took over the business and married Zoé Crampon. The Buffet Crampon had received many awards for the fine quality of its instruments, and positioned itself as the leader in the world of professional clarinets after World War One. In 1981, Buffet Crampon was acquired by the Boosey & Hawkes Group, and modernised its production facilities while maintaining its world-renowned craftsmanship. It is now part of the Music Group, a global leader in band and orchestral instruments manufacturing and distribution.