A stunning and well-filled CD
Laraine A. Barker | New Zealand | 07/25/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm surprised there are no reviews here of this recording. I bought it for the famous (but not-famous-enough) Oboe Concerto in D Minor, Opus 9, No. 2. While I do like the much acclaimed AAM/Christopher Hogwood recording with soloist Frank de Bruine, I chose the King's Consort because of the CD's instrumental variety, and find I prefer their performance of Op. 9, No. 2. Frank de Bruine, in the AAM recording, uses more ornamentation in the unbelievably gorgeous adagio, and he does it beautifully, but Paul Goodwin's playing is just as good and I definitely prefer the one-instrument-to-a part accompaniment of the King's Consort. The first violin's harp-like configuration creates an irresistible 'rocking' motion, over which Paul Goodwin's oboe floats like a lark, emphasising the heavenly beauty of the movement.
The recording I hear mostly on the radio of this concerto features Pierre Pierlot, and the difference is amazing. As if Pierlot's vibrato (wide enough to sail the Queen Mary through) isn't bad enough, the accompaniment is plodding and downright stodgy. Why do modern instrumentalists and opera singers persistently sound as though they are never sure what note they should be playing? Do they never listen to themselves? The result is, to say the least, painful to sensitive ears and I would expect musicians and singers to have more sensitive hearing than I have.
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