Press Photos
Click on a photo to download the high res image. If you need even higher resolution, please download here or email me. Photos by Dario Acosta, 2021
Bio
Oskar Espina Ruiz has been described by the press as a “masterful soloist” (La Nación, Costa Rica) and a “highly expressive clarinetist” (Nevskoye Vremia, Russia). He has performed at major concert halls and festivals to high critical acclaim, including concerto performances at the Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia, and recitals in New York City, Washington DC, Moscow, Madrid, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. He has appeared as soloist with the St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony (Russia), St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic (Russia), Orquesta Sinfónica de la Ciudad de Asunción (Paraguay) and Bilbao Symphony (Spain).
Press Quotes
Chamber Music Wilmington: The Merz Trio Returns in Stellar Fashion
Merz Trio and Oskar Espina-Ruiz, clarinet, perform Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time.
CVNC (Nov 6, 2022)
“Espina-Ruiz was every bit the artistic equal of the Merz group. The long third movement, ‘Abyss of the Birds,’ is a clarinet solo. He sustained the movement in what might have been heard as a single long phrase. There were several extremely hushed entrances which grew into a long crescendo. It takes the finest of technical and dramatic control to create this shape.” (…) “The rhythmic complexities of the sixth movement ‘Dance of Fury’ were handled by the quartet as a whole with what seemed like effortless mastery.”
The Ulysses Quartet Presents an Unusual Program
Chamber Music Wilmington
The Ulysses Quartet and Oskar Espina-Ruiz, clarinet, perform Brahms Clarinet Quintet.
CVNC (Nov 7, 2021)
“Espina-Ruiz played with sensitivity and rich tone, standing out with soaring long phrases, or weaving expressively into the surrounding string lines.”
Spanish Rarities Spice a Fine Evening of Music for Clarinet and String Quartet
Carolina Chamber Symphony: “Mozart’s Genius: Clarinet and String”
Oskar Espina-Ruiz, clarinet
CVNC (Aug 25, 2015)
“Espina-Ruiz’s dexterity was astonishing, with wonderfully clean rapid passages combined with a warm, glowing tone.”
Music@Watson Presents Splendid Brahms and Schubert
The American String Quartet and Oskar Espina-Ruiz
CVNC (Oct. 2, 2012)
“Mr. Espina Ruiz is a phenomenal clarinetist – a subtle and discreet virtuoso whose dynamic control matched that of the string quartet.”
Archived Concert Review
Oskar Espina Ruiz at the Treetops Chamber Music Society, Stamford, CT, with Metropolitan Opera Orchestra artists
Jeffrey Johnson, Stamford Advocate, CT
September 21, 2008
“The outer movements [of “Assobio a Jato” (“The Jet Whistle”) by Heitor Villa-Lobos, transcribed for clarinet and cello by Espina Ruiz] became a showcase for the crystalline high register of Espina Ruiz, who plays in the stratosphere of his instrument with freakish clarity and precision.”
Archived Concert Review
Oskar Espina Ruiz and Noriko Nagasawa in Recital, Teatro Nacional, San José, Costa Rica
Andrés Sáenz, La Nación, San José, Costa Rica
July 23, 2006
“Masterful soloist: polished sound, fine intonation, sustained breath and agile fingering supported interpretations of a pure musicality.”
Archived Concert Review
Concerto performance of Oskar Espina Ruiz with the St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony, Philharmonic Hall, St. Petersburg, Russia
Alina Tsiopa, Nevskoye Vremia, St. Petersburg, Russia
July 13, 2005
“The interpretation of Oskar Espina Ruiz was highly expressive, perfect in all the details and virtuosically executed.”
AN APPRECIATION FROM CHARLES NEIDICH
Julián Menéndez, an Appreciation
Charles Neidich, liner notes to Julián Menéndez Rediscovered, Kobaltone KB 13703, 2004.
July 29, 2004
“(…) The 2 CDs of his clarinet and piano music, wonderfully performed by Oskar Espina Ruiz, Noriko Nagasawa, and Keiko Kurachi opened my eyes and ears to one of the most significant clarinetists of the twentieth century. Menéndez, judging by his compositions, must have been a formidable virtuoso. (…) Menéndez’s music, I realized listening to these CDs, fills an important niche for the clarinet. While we have operatic fantasias and virtuosic show pieces, aside from a couple of attempts by French composers, we have virtually no late romantic concerto-tone poems which, for instance, make up an important part of the violin repertoire, of which Chausson’s Poem is one of the outstanding examples. Oskar Espina Ruiz plays the music with great feeling and technical aplomb. He shows how in Menéndez’s compositions, the clarinet soars like a violin.”
AN APPRECIATION FROM VICENTE PEÑARROCHA
From a Menéndez Disciple
J. Vicente Peñarrocha, liner notes to Julián Menéndez Rediscovered, Kobaltone KB 13703, 2004.
July 29, 2004
“This recording of the works for clarinet and piano by Julián Menéndez is the result of the profound knowledge of Oskar Espina Ruiz, of his excellent technique and his sensitivity, and of his acknowledgement and appreciation of the figure and the oeuvre of an extraordinary clarinetist and excellent musician. As a disciple and admirer of Don Julián Menéndez, I express my gratitude in his name, as well as in the name of all of us who appreciate his figure and oeuvre.”
AN APPRECIATION FROM RICHARD STOLTZMAN
“Bravo and Congratulations”
Richard Stoltzman, liner notes to Julián Menéndez Rediscovered, Kobaltone KB 13703, 2004.
July 29, 2004
“You have performed a great service to all clarinetists and have truly honored the memory of this Spanish master of the clarinet. I listened to both CD’s with growing admiration for Menéndez as composer clarinetist, and for you as master interpreter of his music. Bravo and congratulations. You have opened a beautiful treasure chest of repertoire for the world of clarinetists. Well done!”
ARCHIVED CONCERT REVIEW
Oskar Espina Ruiz in Recital, Centro Cultural de España, Asunción, Paraguay
José Luis De Tone, ABC, Asunción, Paraguay
November 30, 2002
“Through bewitching vibrancy and expressiveness Oskar Espina Ruiz brings forth the notes with an energy that reaches down to one’s soul.”
ARCHIVED CONCERT REVIEW
Oskar Espina Ruiz and Keiko Kurachi in Recital, Luther Ichigaya, Tokyo, Japan
Eiichi Hashimoto, The Clarinet, Japan
September 7, 2000
“Extremely advanced technique and passion.”
