A Rare Recording of a Great Oboist of the Yesteryear
Wai Kit Leung | CA USA | 03/26/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Andre Lardrot was one of the greatest oboists of the 20th century, with a beautiful singing tone and a smooth technique, and the musicality to match. Originally from Switzerland, he studied in the Paris Conservatory, winning the First Prize there, as well as in Geneva in 1956 (shared First Prize) and won the Second Prize in Munich in 1961 (behind Heinz Holliger and ahead of Maurice Bourgue). For years he was the Principal Oboe with the Salzburg Mozarteum.
Andre Lardrot recorded extensively with Vanguard in the LP era, but unfortunately very few recordings have been reissued on CD. This is a rare CD featuring mostly Andre Lardrot's playing.
Being an oboist myself, I can heartily recommend this CD. The quality of the recorded sound is so-so, but the playing is first-class. For an even better rendition of these pieces, with better sound, one may try Heinz Holliger or Pierre Pierlot's recording (available on DG Eloquence and Erato, respectively)."