5 Pieces That Changed My Life: Hannah Shilvock, Clarinetist

Photo by Marc Aldridge

Hey readers!
I’m Hannah Shilvock - clarinet player and Head of Operations here at DEBUT.

At DEBUT, our mission is to redefine how classical music is shared, experienced, and supported. We’re passionate about creating welcoming, story-led concerts and development programmes that connect audiences with outstanding emerging artists - in London and beyond.

So, welcome to our brand-new series: “5 Pieces That Changed My Life.”

In each blog, one of our artists will share the music that shaped who they are - the pieces that sparked inspiration, soothed nerves, or completely changed the course of their journey.

To kick things off, I’m sharing my five pieces and the stories behind them. Let’s dive in! 🎶

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🎶 1. “Clair de Lune” – Claude Debussy

(Listen here → YouTube link)

My first piece has to be a classic - Debussy’s Clair de Lune.

Clair de Lune (French for “Light of the Moon”) is the third movement of Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque, composed in 1890. Its flowing, luminous melodies and gentle harmonies evoke a serene, moonlit landscape, capturing the imagination of listeners and performers alike.
Fun fact: the piece was inspired by the French symbolist poetry movement, and its dreamy, impressionistic style was considered revolutionary at the time - a beautiful example of how Debussy painted with sound.

Why this piece captured my heart:
I started learning piano when I was six years old, and from the moment I discovered this piece, it completely enchanted me. It’s all I wanted to play, all I wanted to get right - those shimmering chords, that gentle ebb and flow. I remember sitting for hours at the piano, trying to capture that soft, dreamlike sound Debussy creates so effortlessly.

It became more than just a favourite piece; it became a milestone. Clair de Lune was the work that earned me my place at the University of Southampton, where I began as a pianist before eventually finding my true musical voice with the bass clarinet. Looking back, it feels like this piece was my first real connection to musical storytelling - the kind of emotional, atmospheric playing that still inspires me today.

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🎶 2. Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano – Aram Khachaturian

(Listen here → YouTube link)

Khachaturian’s Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano is a vibrant and energetic piece, composed in 1932. Full of rhythmic drive, lush harmonies, and unexpected bursts of lyricism, it showcases the clarinet’s expressive range alongside its string and piano partners.
Fun fact: While Khachaturian is best known for his dramatic ballets, he wrote this trio specifically to explore the clarinet’s soloistic possibilities within a chamber setting, blending Armenian folk rhythms with virtuosic flourishes - a unique mix that makes it both playful and deeply expressive.

Why this piece captured my heart:
Chamber music is now a huge part of my professional life, but when I was at university, I wasn’t always such a fan. That all changed when I formed a clarinet, violin, and piano trio with two close friends. We spent countless hours exploring this trio. Playing it together was a revelation - I completely fell in love. It became my first truly positive chamber music milestone, and it’s the piece that showed me the joy, connection, and thrill that making music with others can bring.

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🎶 3. Phantasy Quintet – York Bowen

(Listen here → YouTube link)

York Bowen’s Phantasy Quintet for bass clarinet and string quartet, composed in 1922, is a rich and expressive work full of lyrical melodies, intricate interplay, and romantic harmonies. It is one of the most famous pieces for bass clarinet and string quartet (which may seem like a niche combination, but lots of really fun music for this combination exists!).

Fun fact: Bowen, sometimes called the “English Rachmaninoff,” was a master of lush textures and long, singing lines. Despite being highly regarded in his time, many of his chamber works have remained under the radar, making this quintet a real gem for performers and audiences looking for something both virtuosic and deeply emotive.

Why this piece captured my heart:
I had the incredible opportunity to perform Bowen’s Phantasy Quintet during my master’s recital at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, and it was an unforgettable experience. The power of playing the bass clarinet solo while being surrounded by the lush sound of the string quartet is truly unmatched - that blend of intimacy and grandeur is like nothing else. This performance reminded me why I love chamber music so much: the way each instrument contributes to a living, breathing musical conversation, and the sheer thrill of being part of something bigger than yourself.

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🎶 4. Cello Sonata – György Ligeti

(Listen here → YouTube link)

Ligeti’s Cello Sonata, composed in 1948, is a bold and unconventional work, full of angular lines, unexpected rhythms, and intense emotional contrasts.

Fun fact: Ligeti’s early works were shaped by his experiences in post-war Hungary, and this sonata shows his fascination with exploring new textures, techniques, and forms - a glimpse into the experimental mind of one of the 20th century’s most innovative composers.

Why this piece captured my heart:
This piece holds a very personal place in my heart. It reminds me of many evenings in my second year of university, sitting in my friend’s cold and slightly questionable shared house. He was really into heavy techno, harsh noise, and incredibly experimental music - yet he also had a deep appreciation for classical music. At the time, I was working on some Bach cello suites on my bass clarinet, and he introduced me to this magical piece.

Hearing Ligeti’s Cello Sonata for the first time was unforgettable. Its raw energy, unusual textures, and emotional intensity opened up a whole new world of sound for me. It taught me that music can be thrilling and challenging, even outside the traditional repertoire, and that sometimes the most profound discoveries happen in the most unexpected places.

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🎶 5. “E lucevan le stelle” – Giacomo Puccini

(Listen here → YouTube link)

Puccini’s “E lucevan le stelle” is one of the most iconic arias from his opera Tosca, composed in 1900. Known for its sweeping, passionate melody and heart-wrenching emotional depth, the piece captures the despair and longing of the character Cavaradossi in the final moments of his life.

Fun fact: This aria has been a favourite of tenors for over a century and is often performed in recitals outside the opera house, celebrated for its intense lyricism and dramatic power.

Why this piece captured my heart:
As a clarinet player auditioning for orchestral and opera jobs, E lucevan le stelle is on nearly every single audition list - which means I’ve spent countless hours studying it. Until recently, I had never had the chance to play it in its full, live context. This summer at a DEBUT Secret Concert, I was able to perform the solo alongside Welsh tenor Rhydian Jenkins - which gave me literal goosebumps!

This aria has taught me the thrill of preparation meeting performance, and the sheer joy of finally bringing something I’ve studied for years into the living, breathing moment of music-making. It’s a piece that combines technical challenge with emotional storytelling - and getting to share that experience was unforgettable.

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