Search - Ponchielli, Donizetti, Faure :: Classics for Oboe

Paganini of the oboe

Anton Zimmerling | Moscow, Russia | 01/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD on the ASV/White Line label features the outstanding oboist John Anderson, a former principal of several European orchestras incl. the Philharmonia, now - a concertant soloist, in XIX century oboe classics. These recordings were made in 1995. Anderson is supported by the pianist Gordon Back, an excellent accompanist.

The solo repertory for oboe is rather small and even a layman like me happened to hear a deal of Anderson's program, incl. the awfully difficult Pasculli concert paraphrase on the motifs of 'La Favorita' (track 5) before. By when I heard Anderson play two themes simultaneously in two different registers, I stiffened in astonishment, with my mouth open: the illusion that Anderson was playing double-notes was almost complete. Here you have a virtuoso who can both execute rapid trills as a violinist and sing in cantabile episodes as an opera prima donna or primo uomo: he is indeed playing Fernando's cavatina 'Spirito gentil' (the same track, around [2'12-5'30]and Leonora's aria.

Amilcare Ponchielli's Capriccio (track 1) is a large showpiece in a similar vein. Kalliwoda's Morceau de Salon (track 4) is a bit salon-like, though elegant. If you are longing after more serious music, try Schumann's 3 romances, Op. 94 (8-10) with their elegiac long phrases: the first piece is especially fine. Do you want to know what other serious composers wrote for the oboe? No problem: try Faure (track 7) or Franck (track 11).

The CD is concluded by Leone Sinigaglia's 12 variations on a theme by Schubert, Op. 19 (track 12) - a very pleasant discovery for me: it is first-rate music, not weaker than Schumann's Op. 94. Try to guess which Schubert's theme is taken there. Did you say "Die Forelle"? No, it is another song - "Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein an der Heide". These fine short variations crown Anderson's recital: from professional pastiches to serious, yet amiable music.



Highly recommended."