Gramophone Magazine
March 2025
Editor's Choice

Oleg Shebeta-Dragan (clarinet), Odense Symphony Orchestra, Anna Skryleva

Busoni: Clarinet Concertino in B-Flat Major, Op. 48, BV 276
Françaix: Tema con variazioni (Version for Clarinet & String Orchestra)
Milhaud: Scaramouche, Op. 165d (Version for Clarinet & Orchestra)
Nielsen: Clarinet Concerto Op. 57 (FS129)

Here presenting his debut album, Oleg Shebeta-Dragan came to international attention in the spring of 2022 as winner of the clarinet category at the Carl Nielsen International Competition in Odense, where he also claimed the Special Prize of the Odense Symphony Orchestra and the Junior Jury Prize. For his debut recording, Oleg Shebeta-Dragan is once again joined by the Odense Symphony for works by Busoni, Milhaud and Françaix, along with Nielsen's dynamic, intense, unpredictable and emotionally charged Clarinet Concerto.

"With his warm tone, Shebeta-Dragan is a splendid advocate [for the Busoni] with playing of grace and fluidity, his silken touch making light of the tricky ‘string-inspired arpeggios’ of which Jack Brymer used to complain." - Gramophone Magazine, March 2025