Liam Burke, Clarinetist
Liam Burke

​Clarinet, E-flat Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
LBurke88@gmail.com
781-864-2178
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"Even as memories of large swaths of the evening gradually fade, it will be hard to forget Liam Burke’s handling of the great clarinet solo in 'Abyss of the Birds,' the third section of Messiaen’s 'Quartet for the End of Time': the long, slow crescendos building inexorably from velvety quiet to stark pierces that filled Paul Recital Hall." (The New York Times, Juilliard Chamberfest)

"…Mr. Burke’s phrasing embraced the bent notes and other jazz touches that Benny Goodman, for whom Bartok wrote the part, brought to the first performances…" (The New York Times, Juilliard ChamberFest, Bartok Contrasts)

"Liam Burke played the solo line with vitality and nuance…" (The New York Times, Juilliard Chamber Orchestra, Copland Clarinet Concerto)

"Interesting to watch was the clarinetist, Liam Burke, as he illustrated all the phrases by dance-like movements and bodily expression. In fact, Liam Burke was the highlight of the concert with elegant and sensitive playing, and the ability to blend into the strings and suddenly to flourish from the bottom to the top of the clarinet range, with wide change of timbre and volume, yet keeping an excellent tone. This was the key during Johannes Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op. 115. The strings, also fine, blended so well during chordal passages that they sounded like one instrument."  (Times Union, Ensemble ACJW)

"Bartok's "Contrasts" started things off with plenty of color and pizzazz. Though the piece is a trio, clarinetist Liam Burke owned it."  (Times Union, Ensemble ACJW)

"Clarinetist Liam Burke and pianist Tyler Wottrich were confident and virtuosic throughout, navigating the work’s most rhythmic and capricious moments. Particularly in the solo clarinet’s movement, “Abîme des oiseaux,” Burke easily moved between glacially paced melodies and fleeting, rapid-fire bird calls. Encompassing a wide dynamic range, he provided heart-stopping moments when transitioning from whispers into full-blown primal screams." (Feast of Music, Ensemble ACJW, Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time)

Mid-program, four New York City-based clarinetists—Jon Manasse, Pascual Martinez Forteza, Liam Burke, and David Gould—joined QV for three octets by Astor Piazzolla. As an eight-some, the group produced a hearty sound that remained just as unified. Jazzy, sexy, and distinctly Latin, the players ripped through the glissandi-filled solos with flair; the octets proving to be a blast for both the players and audience alike."  (Feast of Music, Quatuor Vendôme) 

"On Friday it was all string players except for one woodwind, Liam Burke on clarinet. In Mozart’s Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, K. 581, he showed extraordinary skill, gorgeous tone and staggering lung power." (Times Union, Ensemble ACJW)

"In Respighi it was the principal horn Francisco Gomez Ruiz who impressed; in the Ravel Piano Concerto which followed it was clarinettist Liam Burke. He flung out his solo in the finale with gleeful panache..." (The Telegraph, BBC Proms, The Juilliard School/Royal Academy joint concert)

"There were a number of brief, beautiful, instrumental solos, the clarinet, (Liam Burke) the bassoons, (Marc Goldberg and Maureen Strenge) to name only a few." (Darien News, Stamford Symphony Orchestra, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6)

"Liam Burke was sensational on clarinet…" (nymuseums.com, Juilliard Chamber Orchestra, Copland Clarinet Concerto)

"…played with dexterous virtuosity by clarinetists Anton Rist and Liam Burke…" (Feast of Music, Miraculous Mandarin)





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