Search - Sylva Pozzer :: Marcello: Concertos and Cantatas

Ode to the oboe

Samir El Arishy | Berkeley, CA USA | 08/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As an Egyptian woman brought up on the sounds of the "nay" a simple reed instrument which was a favourite of the pharaohs the nostalgic composition of Marcello was an immediate favourite...to be listened to again and again. I also listened to the guitar rendering of the concerto which had a totally different effect..slower tempo more drawn out and laconic... Marcello has created a piece of music that will survive for all times"

Very well played but........

Ross Kennett | Narooma, NSW Australia | 07/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Marcello's oboe concerto is often recorded, but very little else of Marcello is, so I had a browse to see what I could find. Very little, but I thought I had struck gold when I found this CD, more oboe concertos, played by Venice Baroque, one of the best baroque groups.

The first work is that oboe concerto, well played, Albinoni in style, i.e. a concerto for oboe with strings rather than a virtuoso performance. The remainder of the disc is from a manuscript that has been forgotten for 250 years, first performance just before this recording. The music is not typical of early 18th century Italian being shy and reserved, in my opinion palid and lifeless, no doubt why it has lain ignored for so long.

But a review should be mostly about the performance, which is excellent, but as it was probably Marcon's choice of music I can mark it down. Four stars, and I feel generous.

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