Clarinet Playing Reviews
"clarinetist Scholes and percussionist Shane Currey gave an electrifying account of the 1981 Emergence"
William Dart
NZ Herald June 24, 2008
"Peter Scholes excelled himself as soloist in the Carl Maria von Weber Clarinet Concerto showing why he is one of the country’s leading wind instrument players. The work which is full of inventive passages musical surprises was turned into a piece of performance art with the soloists coaxing an amazing range of sounds out of the instrument from insistent raucous shrieks to tender whispers".
John Daly-PeoplesDart
National Business Review December 23, 2003
“Peter Scholes, principal clarinet of the Auckland Philharmonia, gave a lovely performance of the Mozart concerto.”
John Button
Dominion
“...the serenely beautiful adagio brought forth all the wonders of Mozart’s incomparable score.”
Alan Badley
The Evening Post
“a dazzling soloist. Scholes was one of the exciting performers of the Sonic; straight after the virtuosic “concerto” he performed three more demanding avant-garde works for clarinet including his own fascinating Wireless.”
Elizabeth Kerr
New Zealand Listener
“Peter Scholes was a superb soloist”
W. Dart
New Zealand Listener
“The audience will also remember, too, the superb playing of clarinettist Peter Scholes in Stravinsky’s Three Pieces for Clarinet ... breathing, phrasing, dynamics were all par excellence.”
Peter Williams
The Daily Telegraph
“His performance of the Copland Concerto was one of the season’s highlights
W. Dart
New Zealand Listener
“This musician has an outstanding technique. His agility and control of tone gave life and vitality to these three delightful pieces.”
Graham Parsons
Evening Standard
“Scholes’s account of the Premiere Rapsodie had a freshness and imagination that was totally winning”
W. Dart
New Zealand Listener
“the artistry and technical mastery of Peter Scholes were a joy to hear”
L.C.M. Saunders
New Zealand Herald
“A new musical star is rising in the scene in Peter Scholes .... soloist in a stunning performance of Mozart’s clarinet concerto.
He has undoubted technical ability to take him to the top, but the most outstanding qualities with which he is endowed are the floating, rich tone and musical understanding which in combination make riveting listening.
He was able to make brilliant dynamic contrasts from loud to the softest of soft without losing drive or control, shape phrases with a delightful inevitability and turn this most happy of Mozart concertos into a musical feast”
Terry Snow
Auckland Star
“..infinite variety of tonal colour
...virtuoso performance”
J.Y.
Northern Advocate
“Scholes displayed infinite skill and style in his interpretations of these works and had amazing breath control”
J.R.
Gisborne Herald
“...a lively and flawless performance...”
G.G.
The Southland Times
“Mr Scholes’ playing was full of lyricism and tonal colour”
Warren Wiggins
Nelson Evening Mail
“The artistry and technical excellence of Peter Scholes never varies”
L.C.M. Saunders
New Zealand Herald
“...virtuosic skill.”
Elizabeth Kerr
New Zealand Listener
“...breathtakingly brilliant.”
Terry Snow
Auckland Star
“All the while, his amazing breath control, and sense of musical tone and shape, exercised the ear with a stimulating chase for feeling and resolution.”
Terry Snow
Auckland Star
“his approach always original rather than predictable”
Peter Shaw
Auckland Metro
“Scholes conjuring up wild snakes of music on saxes and clarinets”
Colin Hogg
Auckland Star
“...the charming birdsong lines of Peter Scholes limpid clarinet”
Terry Snow
Auckland Star
“.. the elegance of the solo lines from Peter Scholes’ clarinet...”
L.C.M. Saunders
New Zealand Herald
“Peter Scholes, as able on the sopranino recorder as on the clarinet, rippled through the elaborate figurations of a Vivaldi concerto with an agility that earned him the major ovation of the concert.”
L.C.M. Saunders
New Zealand Herald
“His playing was exemplary in terms of phrasing and finish”.
Tara Werner
Auckland Star
“Peter Scholes, as accomplished in technique as he is sure in memory, was the soloist for a clarinet concerto by Stamitz”
L.C.M. Saunders
New Zealand Herald
“Scholes is an outstanding young exponent of the instrument, with a velvet tone and unerring accuracy....”
Desmond Mahoney
Auckland Star
“A dazzling performance of John Ritchie’s Concertino for clarinet and strings”
W. Dart
New Zealand Listener
“...expressive virtuosity.”
Terry Snow
Auckland Star
“...the choice for this concert being Aaron Copland’s clarinet concerto. It was a winner, just as much for the excellence of Peter Scholes in the solo part as for the interest of the music.
Scholes, always a stylish and very musical player was in his element here.
His smooth flowing melody in the first movement came beautifully over the accompaniment of soft strings, harp and piano.
After a modest start the cadenza flowered into brilliance, leading into the jaunty finale...”
L.C.M. Saunders
New Zealand Herald
“An immaculate performer...”
Gerald Seaman
New Zealand Herald
“...effortless technique and clear phrasing...”
Tara Werner
Auckland Star
“His clarinet concerto (Nielsen) had for its soloist Peter Scholes, in whose playing there is never a dull bar.
The clarinet part is full of interest, scampering in brilliant flourishes, diving down to chalumeau notes, turning quietly lyrical, and including two fine cadenzas.”
L.C.M. Saunders
New Zealand Herald
“It (the Nielsen Concerto) found a ready champion in Peter Scholes, whose silky smooth tone combined with careful phrasing impressed.”
Tara Werner
Auckland Star
“...floating rich tone and musical understanding which in combination made riveting listening”
Auckland Star
“...his agility and control of tone gave life and vitality”
Evening Standard
“...virtuosic skill...”
New Zealand Listener
“....Peter Scholes had a night of distinction in this programme.”
New Zealand Herald
“...there was also poignancy with Peter Scholes’s lingering solo.”
W. Dart
New Zealand Listener
“Peter Scholes on clarinet contributed warm rich arabesques.”
Harry Brown
Taranaki Herald
“The clarinet quintets by Weber and Mozart were adorned by the first-class playing of Peter Scholes. His playing, with great variety and control of dynamics, exploited the full range of the instrument.”
L.C.M.Saunders
New Zealand Herald
“Peter Scholes delivered a radiant performance...”
Lindis Taylor
The Evening Post
"It was clear that young and old were entranced by his magic"
Allen Cookson
Marlborough Express
"Peter Scholes is a clarinettist of international quality, and he captured the contrasting moods of the concerto (Copland) in masterly fashion. This was virtuosic playing ..."
John Button
Dominion
"... a player of great polish and refinement."
John Button
Dominion