Nära

Klara Kollektiv

2020 CLASSICAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR (finalist)

The Klara Kollektiv is a Swedish-based chamber ensemble founded by clarinetist Anna McGregor, violinist Manu Berkeljon, and pianist Taru Kurki. Manu and Anna began playing together as members of the Dalecarlia Clarinet Quintet, whose album, Fjärran, won the Tui Award for Best Classical Album at the 2016 New Zealand music awards.

Nära, their first recording for Rattle, presents repertoire from their 2018 Chamber Music New Zealand tour, and celebrates their collaboration with New Zealand composer, Anthony Ritchie.

Anna McGregor (clarinet, voice)
Manu Berkeljon (violin)
Taru Kurki (piano)

Produced by Kenneth Young
Engineered by Steve Garden and John Kim
Recording in The Little Theatre, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt, August 2018
Piano tuning by Michael Ashby
Mixed and mastered by Steve Garden
Design by UnkleFranc
Printing by Studio Q

The Klara Kollektiv and Rattle Records gratefully thank Creative New Zealand and the Lilburn Trust for their generous support of this project

Released: 26 September 2019
Catalogue: RAT-D092

ANNA McGREGOR

New Zealand clarinetist Anna moved to Sweden in 2010 to study for her Master’s Degree at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. She has performed with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and the Swedish Radio Orchestra, and currently holds the position of associate principal clarinet at Wermland Opera in Karlstad. Anna maintains her ‘Kiwi-connection’ by actively performing and recording the work of New Zealand composers.

MANU BERKELJON

Born and raised on the West Coast of New Zealand, Manu orchestral career includes contracts with the NZSO, Sydney Symphony, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, and since 2011 has occupied an associate principle chair with DalaSinfoniettan. A devoted chamber musician, she performs with numerous chamber ensembles. As a soloist Manu has performed with the NZSO, Cape Town Philharmonic, and orchestras in Australia and Sweden.

TARU KURKI

Born in Finland, Taru is a passionate soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. She has a Bachelor of Music from Helsinki, and a Master of Music from the Royal College of Music/Edsberg in Stockholm. In addition to travelling to New Zealand with the Klara Kollektiv, she has performed extensively throughout Northern Europe and the Baltic countries. Since August 2012 she has held the position of Head of Piano at the Falun Music Conservatory in Sweden.