Holliger Performing Rare Romantic Gems
Wai Kit Leung | CA USA | 03/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Heinz Holliger is featured at his best here on several romantic rarities for oboe and orchestra. The Hummel Variations was recorded in 1968, while the rest was recording in 1975.
The Molique Concertino features some adventureous and virtuosic writings -- modulation through remote keys as well as numerous trills as well as touching the high G a couple of times. Holliger makes everything sound easy. Moschelles features Holliger regular partner Aurele Nicolet on the flute. The Rietz piece is a nice piece deep into the Romantic vein. Holliger switches to the English horn for the Concerto by Fiala, an oboe player himself. The pieces by Bellini and Hummel should be familiar to a wider population of oboists.
All in all, excellent playing (untouchable really) from Holliger. These rare romantic gems are hard-to-find on CDs. If you want an alternative version, you can check out a recent recording by the great Australian oboist Diana Doherty:
Romantic Oboe Concertos"