Search - Allard, Bourgue, Calabrese Nane :: Vivaldi: Concertos

A great Vivaldi collection, particularly for oboists and bas

Wai Kit Leung | CA USA | 05/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 4-CD set is a collection of 4 previously-released Erato individual CDs, housed in a paper jacket. Included are:



Concertos for Viola d'amour

Nane Calabrese, viola d'amour



Concertos for Oboe

Maurice Bourgue, oboe



Concerto for Bassoon

Maurice Allard, bassoon



Concerto for Cello

Frederic Lodeon, cello





All performances are good, and for the oboe and bassoon concertos, great (in my opinion, as close to perfection as I have heard). Since I am an oboist and bassoonist, I will spend more time here talking about those 2 discs.



Both of those 2 discs have been discontinued as individual releases. Maurice Bourgue's recording of the Vivaldi concertos was made in 1981, in his prime. The recorded sound is strangely a bit froggy, but the playing is beyong reproach. Virtuosity, huge tonal and dynamic range, and wonderful singing quality in the slow movement. Maurice Allard's recording was made in the mid 1970s, and it is sheer perfection. He might not have added any ornamentation to the slow movements, but with his expressive playing, he might as well not have needed it. The French bassoon is rarely heard on disc (even more rarely so live), and this is a must for bassoonists.



As of my review, this album is not available on Amazon. If you can find it either new or used, please don't hesitate to buy it. You won't be disppointed."