Walter Boeykens

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Walter Boeykens

Knight Walter Boeykens January 6, 1938 Bornem, Belgium is a Belgian conductor and a world renowned clarinetist. Boeykens has an impressive discography including several critically acclaimed performances that are testimony to his status as one of the most notable clarinetists of the 20th century. Walter Boeykens remains active and can still be heard in concert frequently all around the world.

His career as a clarinetist

Boeykens studied the clarinet at the Royal Conservatory of Music Brussels. In 1965 he won the International competition for contemporary music of Utrecht (Netherlands).

Between 1964 en 1984 he was principal clarinetist of Belgian Radio and Television (BRT) Philharmonic Orchestra.

On December 20 1968 he created Domaines by Pierre Boulez —originally written for Hans Deinzer— in the version for Clarinet and Orchestra with the BRT Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of the composer himself.

This achievement launched him onto the path of a very successful career as a soloist. As a consequence, he was invited to many of the big European music festivals such as those of Berlin, Paris, Warschau, Salzburg, and last but not least to the festivals of Wallonia and Flanders (both in Belgium).

He appeared as soloist in numerous concerts in Israel, the USA, Venezuela, Japan, Korea...

Leaving the BRT philharmonic in 1984 allowed him to fully develop his career as a soloist, and play under the 'baton of famous conductors such as Charles Münch, Rafael Frübeck de Burgos, Gary Bertini, Leonard Bernstein, James Conlon, and many others.

In 1969, Boeykens was appointed professor at the Royal Flemish Music Conservatory of Antwerp.

In 1972 he became professor at the "Académie Internationale d'Été de Nice". Additionally, Walter Boeykens holds assignments at the conservatories of Utrecht, Rotterdam and at the Fontys Conservatory in Tilburg all in the Netherlands. Last but not least, he teaches at the "Cité de la Musique" in Paris, France and at the "Scuola di Alto Perfezionamente Musicale" in Turin in Italy.

In 1981, he founded the Walter Boeykens Clarinet Choir at the Royal Flemish Music Conservatory of Antwerp.

In 1997 and 2001 he was on the jury of the Carl Nielsen International Music Competitions. In 1997 the jury was composed of:[1]

In 2001, jury members where:

Prizes and honours

Boeykens has been awarded many honours and prizes:

Discography

Recordings on LP

Recordings on SACD

Recordings on CD

As Soloist

  • Erato 2292-45459-2 © 1991, (p) 1991
    • Carl Maria von Weber;
      • Concerto in F major op.73 J114 for Clarinet and Orchestra;
      • Concertino in c minor op.26 J109 for Clarinet and Orchestra;
      • Concerto in E-flat major op.74 J118 for Clarinet and Orchestra;
  • Ricercar RIS 065044 (p) 1989 (Disque Choc in France)
    • Johannes Brahms;
      • Sonate F minor op 120/1
      • Sonate E-flat major op 120/2
      • Trio op.114 for Clarinet, Cello and Piano

Boeykens Clarinet Choir

Live concert in Japan:

Recordings of the Ensemble Walter Boeykens

Several recordings on the music label Harmonia Mundi

Conducting a Symphonic Band

Jazz Recordings

Works written for him

References

  • Pamela Weston; Clarinet Virtuosi of Today; p32-37, ISBN 0 905858 46 8, Egon publishers 1989.
  • EPR CLASSIC EPRC 001, 2007, Biography on DVD

External links