The Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra in C minor, Op. 31, was completed in 1949 by British composer Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956). It is a lovely sunny work that gives the clarinet every opportunity to shine. Personally, I rate this as the second best clarinet concerto after Mozart, ahead of usual suspects like Nielsen and Weber. The three movements work's average playing time is 28 minutes (AllMusic). My version is by Michael Collins and the City Of London Sinfonia under Richard Hickox on a Virgin Classics CD.
