Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard [1] Strauss, Carl Maria von Weber :: Mozart, Strauss, Weber: Wind Concertos (Oboe Concerto, Bassoon Concerto, Hungarian Fantasy)

LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES

Juan de Gomar | Atlanta, Georgia | 07/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings are some of the finest examples of double reed performance bar none. You have recordings by some of Americas greatest double reed performers and one of the truest examples of the "Philadelphia" school of wind playing. The significance in this is that the American School of oboe performance comes from the Philadelphia school through Marcel Tabuteau, who was John de Lancie's teacher. When you hear de Lancie's unsurpassed and flawless artistry, you hear Tabuteau. Bernard Garfield is a true living ledgend and in my opinion there is no better recording of the Mozart Concerto or the Hungarian Rondo than his. His sound is pure, sweet, and without equal. His level of music making is such that you begin to forget that it is a bassoon that is singing to you and that it is something else all together transcending that. I would strongly urge all oboists, bassoonists, and lovers of fine music making, to purchase this CD. These recordings stand the test of time."

Double Reed showcase--Strauss, Mozart, Weber

A. Braid | New York, NY | 03/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD from Sony combines some of the finest recordings of these pieces I have ever heard. These pieces are all at the top of the repertoire for their respective instruments and played by the world's best performers.



The two Mozart concertos here both receive fine interpretations by the Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy conducting his principal musicians, oboist John deLancie and Bernard Garfield. If the orchestra at times sounds a bit heavy, and the tempi a touch slow--because we are now accustomed to hearing these pieces by chamber orchestras and period instruments ensembles--this will be made up for by the exuberant and precise execution of one of the best orchestra-conductor relationships ever. deLancie, carrying the torch from his predecessor Marcel Tabuteau, proves that he was certainly one of the leaders in a generation of great oboists which include John Mack, Ray Still, Harold Gomberg. deLancie's phrasing is beautiful, his sound warm, and gives an all-around artful performance, especially in the delightful closing rondo movement. Garfield also shines in Mozart, with a beautiful rich bassoon tone that is always singing, both in the low and high registers of his instrument. Garfield and the Philadelphia Orchestra also do a wonderful job with Weber's Hugarian Rondo. Garfiled gives great character to some of the variations, always with great technique. It is hard to say enough praises about these two stellar soloists caught in classic recordings from the early 1960s.



But there is more... The author of the liner notes writes that Strauss' concerto is a "liquid, constantly developing essay into the very nature of the oboe itself, as well as the orchestra which surrounded it... they play 'into' one another, the oboe dovetailing here and there into the orchestral texture, which itself emerges and submerges according to the musical demands of the journey. It is as if throughout all of his previous orchestral writing... Strauss had been preparing to write this work, polishing his knowledge of and challenging each instrument to its maximum capacity." I don't think there is a better description of this piece, and that is exactly the way the performers do it. Neil Black hands over a spectacular version of this devilishly difficult Strauss Oboe Concerto backed by the English Chamber Orchestra and Daniel Barenboim. Black's playing is so smooth and beautiful that you will not notice the taxing long phrasing and awkward breathing patterns required of the oboist. Barenboim is no doubt intimately familiar with Strauss' large orchestra and operatic works from his conducting career, and he leads one of the world's finest chamber orchestras in an intimate and colorful orchestra accompaniment. With Barenboim's genius baton, the orchestra interacts intimately with the soloist the way Strauss intended, and the recording balance is perfect. In my opinion, the over all soloist-orchestral execution in this recording of the Strauss Concerto is only matched by Ray Still's recording, whose recording on Virgin is also available at a great price.



While I know that there are other great recordings of these pieces (I am a double reed player) this album is really a special treat--so much great double reed playing on one CD! With 74 minutes of music at $6.98, this CD is also a tough deal to beat. It should definitely be in your collection."