Search - Tomaso Albinoni, Arthur Benjamin, Alessandro Marcello :: Cimarosa's Oboe Concerto; Concerti by Albinoni, Marcello & Vivaldi

Venetian Oboe Concertos

rodboomboom | Dearborn, Michigan United States | 06/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here the Venetian composers of some great oboe concertos with the addition of Benjamin's rearrangement of Cimarosa's keyboard sonatas for Barvirolli's oboe shine.Oboeist Anderson is consistent in exquisite performance. Wright's able conducting of the Philharmonia Orchestra provides a glorious backdrop to the solo pieces.Especially fond of Cimarosa/Benjamin's Concerto and Albioni's Concerto in B flat.Besides these, there are wonderful concertos by Vivaldi and Marcello.This is marvelous addition to growing oboe collection."

Five times Five Stars

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 10/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard this disk on my car radio while driving on a California freeway. I was so "jazzed" that I pulled off at the next exit to write down the details for ordering it, something I've never done before or since. This is artful, sensuous music played with stunning virtuosity. Don't miss it!"

A bel canto oboe

Anton Zimmerling | Moscow, Russia | 01/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is a shame that this glorious CD is so poorly advertised. I came across it at a moment, when 60-second samples of each sound track still were available on amazon.com: I was looking for Marcello's concerto and compared different versions. I was immediately caught by the ravishing sound of this soloist, John Anderson, a principal oboe in a number of European orchestras. His phrasing is perfect, and he excels both in virtuosic trills (try the last track, the final movement of Vivaldi's A minor concerto, RV 451) and in cantabile episodes, where he shows up his warm and rich sound. In the beginning of Benjamin-Cimarosa's C minor concerto and in Marcello' concerto Anderson's instrument sounds as fine bel canto voice. I have later found another Anderson's CD, where he indeed performs Pasculli's paraphrase of Donizetti's 'La Favorita' (available on White Line label, WHL 2100): his vocal line in Fernando's cavatina 'Spirto gentil' may remind you of some famous tenors of the past (Gigli, Bonci), who championed that aria.

Of course, this is not an authentic performance: Anderson plays with a vibrato and uses a modern instrument. He is accompanied by a large orchestra. But even if you prefer period performances and small bands, this CD is worth buying - for Anderson's impeccable phrasing and for Simon Wright's tasteful accompaniment. It is very easy to make baroque concertos messy and noisy even with a small group of players: here a big band - the Philharmonia Orchestra of London - offers a clear and transparent sound.

Heartily recommended."