Search - Strauss, Francaix, Ibert :: Oboe Concerto

Truly First Class.

Suvayd Allenger | Ottawa, Ontario Canada | 10/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the reissue by Boston Records of one of my all-time favourite oboe CDs. During his long and distinguished career (over 30 years) with the Philadelphia Orchestra, John de Lancie became world famous and took part in many great recordings; still this is his only solo album. Aside from its historical value (the oboist documenting, after 40 years, the concerto he had inspired Strauss to write), this is a wonderful CD all around. John de Lancie, who passed away last May at age 80, was 65 when he recorded the newly-remastered Strauss, and his performance has the kind of gentleness and quiet dignity that only comes with maturity. He avoids the trap of sentimentality, opting instead, as always, for refinement and elegance, tinged in places with a hint of melancholy that can be quite moving.



All the other pieces were recorded back in the sixties with Andre Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra. De Lancie is at his very best, seemingly determined to show us just about every possible mood and nuance that can be expressed by the oboe... and succeeding! "L'Horloge de flore" in particular, a suite of seven short movements played without interruption and evoking the flowers that bloom at different times of the day, is a gem of charm and grace, admirably suited to de Lancie's special brand of magic.



All around, it is a wonderful CD with great sound quality, a must-have for anyone who enjoys the oboe, and we can thank Boston Records for making it available again for years to come.



P.S.: By the way, I highly recommend the 4 Philadelphia Woodwind Quintet CDs, also featuring de Lancie, released under the same label: a class act if there ever was one!"

Francaix magic!..

J. Anderson | Monterey, CA USA | 12/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cheery remastering and faultless oboe playing by de Lancie contribute mightily to this disc. The Strauss is understated and succeeds because of it. If you're not familiar with it, get this recording for Francaix' 'L'Horloge de Flore' (The Flower Clock) -- a little miracle of 20th cent. music, a score so French and so free. It has a sweet and brilliant taste -- music 'sans souci!' De Lancie's is arguably the best recorded version, and Previn's a perfect friend in this music. You'll wonder how it is you never heard this contagious little oboe concerto -- a concerto in chamber music form! It's a perfect jewel of a piece, and followed by a compelling restrained 'Gymnopodie', little's left but bliss. De Lancie's playing is free and unaffected, he pushes up against the orchestra and brings it along, Previn dances, the whole marvelous edifice aloft passes by carefree and wonderful. 'L'Horloge de Flore' is pure musical delight to treasure. Ideas about the restoration of earlier recordings as a medium of modern expression are vindicated by art of this kind. Couldn't be more satisfying."