Caressing, flattering, abrasive, glowing with brilliance: masterful Swiss clarinetist François Benda’s playing brings all of these attributes to mind, and more, on his second CD release with Genuin. After the intimate paintings rendered using a muted tonal palette on his disc of Brahms chamber music, in his second release Benda unveils a sweeping tapestry of brilliant color. Concertos chock full of bravura await listeners in performances of works by Rossini, Busoni, Debussy and Nielsen for clarinet and orchestra. Any clarinet aficionado and classical music fan will find something to exult in—an oil painting by Rossini, a watercolor rainbow by Debussy, the classic dimensions of a Busoni drawing or the pale yet extravagant pastel crayon tone-painting of Nielsen. Benda’s performances are veritable musical fireworks!