Strauss: Wind Concertos

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This is an enchanting record. It presents several unfamiliar but beautiful works by Richard Strauss, and it showcases the principal wind players of the Chicago Symphony, who, not surprisingly, are fabulous. Moreover, they have the benefit of an equally fabulous backup band, and the hornist even gets to play a piece with the conductor, Daniel Barenboim, at the piano.

The program begins and ends with pieces Strauss wrote as a teenager, flanking two written late in his life. The former include an Andante for horn and piano--a love song reminiscent of Wagner--two dreamy, poetic piano pieces reminiscent of Liszt, and the popular first Horn Concerto, a bravura piece written for his horn-virtuoso father. Though Strauss was still finding his voice, this work no longer seems to lean on other composers and the orchestration is already masterful. The concerto is youthfully ardent and exuberant, its second movement very lyrical and a bit melancholy, the finale a brilliant hunting call. Like the other two, late concertos, it has three connected but strongly contrasting movements. The Duet-Concertino for clarinet and bassoon has an elusive quality, but the finale is delightful, the coda a Viennese waltz. The orchestration for strings and harp is rich and luscious, with several soloists who interact with the clarinet and bassoon.

The highlight is the Oboe Concerto. Serene and romantic, it has an ecstatic, gorgeous slow movement; a brilliant, florid, rhapsodic solo part full of inventive cadenzas; and rich orchestration for a small orchestra. The neglect of this work is inexplicable. Both late pieces are so haunted by echoes of all Strauss's earlier symphonic poems and operas as to invite a game of "Name That Tune's First Cousin!" --Edith Eisler

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Andante
III. Rondo. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Serenade in E Flat, Op.7 For Wind Instruments Horn Concerto No.2 in E Flat
I. Allegro
II. Andante Con Moto
III. Rondo. Allegro Molto

Customer Reviews:

Incredible recording of Strauss 2.......2007-03-09

In 1988, at the age of 14, DAVID PYATT became the youngest winner of the prestigious BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. He won this award performing Strauss's Second Horn Concerto. In 1996 he released this recording and it prevails ofer every recording I have ever heard. The balance between the orchestra and the soloist creates a vocal approach to Strauss' late work. The maturity of Pyatt's sound and musicality makes for an ideal approach to what Strauss was looking for. I stongly recommend this recording for all lovers of beautiful music. The only recording that comapres is the legendary Dennis Brain recording.

A rousing flourish from a wonderful young artist.......2005-12-31

David Pyatt has been hailed as successor to the sainted Dennis Brain. He won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Award in 1988 when he was only 14--the youngest recipient ever--and made this totally accomplished recording of the two Strauss horn concertos in 1994, just out of his teens. The comparison to Brain isn't frivolous. It would be hard to imagine a more lyrical player; like Brain, Pyatt can make the French horn sound like a true woodwind. He has a meltingly lovely tone, on the feminine side, again like Brain, favoring supplenesss over power.

The British have a proud heritage of horn virtuosos (Brain, Alan Civil, Barry Tuckwell) for Pyatt to join. This CD was widely admired in the UK, though I htink it went unnoticed in the U.S. Besides the two concertos, it includes Strauss's early Serenade in E-flat and a really lovely rendition of his last orchstral work, the Duet-Concertino for clarinet and bassoon from 1947 (the horn doesn't play here). Nicholas Cleobury conducts expertly, and it's nice to hear these works accompanied by a chamber ensemble (the Britten Sinfonietta), which puts the horn in more comfortable balance than a full orchestra.

Average customer rating:

Perfection!
Odd compilation, but stunningly performed
Captivating Concerto Masterpiece!
Amazing solo talent
A Spellbinding Recording Of Strauss' Lesser Known Wind Works

Strauss: Wind Concertos

Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000059TL6
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Tracks:

Hn Con No.1 in E flat, Op.11: Allegro - Dale Clevenger
Hn Con No.1 in E flat, Op.11: Andante - Dale Clevenger
Hn Con No.1 in E flat, Op.11: Allegro - Dale Clevenger
Duett-Concertino in F, AV 147: Allegro Moderato - Andante - Larry Combs/David McGill
Duett-Concertino in F, AV 147: Rondo: Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Larry Combs/David McGill
Con in D, AV 144: Allegro Moderato - Alex Klein
Con in D, AV 144: Andante - Alex Klein
Con in D, AV 144: Vivace - Alex Klein D
Andante in C, AV 86A - Dale Clevenger/Daniel Barenboim
Stimmungsbilder, Op.9: No.2 in A flat: An Einsamer Quelle - Daniel Barenboim
Stimmungsbilder, Op.9: No.4 in B: Traumerei - Daniel Barenboim

Amazon.com

This is an enchanting record. It presents several unfamiliar but beautiful works by Richard Strauss, and it showcases the principal wind players of the Chicago Symphony, who, not surprisingly, are fabulous. Moreover, they have the benefit of an equally fabulous backup band, and the hornist even gets to play a piece with the conductor, Daniel Barenboim, at the piano.

Customer Reviews:

Perfection!.......2004-09-16

This is a recording worth listening to over and over again. The peerless playing of these CSO principals as well as the excellent conducting from Barenboim make this CD the best there is in this repetoire. The Oboist Mr. Klein is sadly no longer playing much anymore due to a rare case of focal dystonia...he is an incredible musician and this performance of the Oboe Concerto is absolutely flawless with superb range in the bass register as well.

Odd compilation, but stunningly performed.......2002-08-08

I orignially purchased this CD to hear Alex Klein's rendition of the oboe concerto, but was simply delighted by the mastery given to every one of the pieces on this disc.

Dale Clevenger's performance of the first horn concerto is outstaning. From the opening fanfare, he plays through it all with spirit, sensitivity, and beautiful phrasing--not letting us down in his stature as one of the most formidable American horn players in this half of the twentieth century. My one problem is that his tone is a bit thin, which may be simply a product of the American school of playing.

Perhaps the hightlight of this album is the Duett-concertino for clarinet, bassoon and strings. Not only is it an absolutely charming piece, it is beautifully played by Combs and McGill, who weave in and out of each other with a luscious tone and gorgeously silky phrasing.

As an oboist, Alex Klein has never failed to knock me backwards with his flying fingers, incredible breathing and unique musicality. This recording is simply frightening. The first movement is taken at its true "Allegro moderato" tempo, and the opening, restless fifty-seven bars are played entirely unflinchingly and absolutely beautifully...I don't know how he does it. The rest of the piece is played just as incredibly, and the last movement sparkles with gusto and virtuosity. All throughout the piece, Klein and the orchestra connect absolutely perfectly (listen to the clarinet in the first movement).

I don't particularly like the selection of the Andante for horn and piano and the two piano pieces at the end...they just don't seem to go very well with the full orchestral pieces before them. Sill, they are very nicely played, particularly the Träumerei from the last set.

Captivating Concerto Masterpiece!.......2002-03-30

From the opening Horn Concerto, this Straussian rendering of his wind compositions is simply put, exhilirating listening! I can't get enough of hearing it, and I propose that likely many of you music conisseurs will as well. Recorded by members of the famed Chicago Symphony, it is very well done.

This collection features five compositions, his Horn Concerto No. 1 in E flat major and a second horn piece, this a Andante for Horn and Piano. As Strauss' father was a renown horn player himself and young Richard was made to accompany him at home much on the piano, that these pieces were of special import to him.
Dale Clevenger provides the solo work here, done with richness of tone and gusto in phrasing. I become enchanted more with the Horn Concerto with each listening. A great opener to this strong CD.

Next comes my favorite piece, even though I am partial to oboe numbers. This delightful Duet-Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon is magnificently rendered by Larry Combs and David McGill. It bubbles and percolates with brilliant exhanges between the two instruments. Seductive and subtle, with magnificent light string accompanyment, this truly has become my favorite piece.

The Oboe Concerto was inspired by a visiting American oboeist, John deLancie. Amazingly, deLancie of the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Orchestras, only played this piece once, at Interlochen, Michigan with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. It is demanding for the oboeist, requiring 57 solid measures without rest. Strauss reputedly recommended a mechanical breathing device for this, however, contemporary oboeists insist on overcoming the breathing issue with circular breathing. Here Alex Klein proves his rating as one of tops in the world with a brilliant sinuous and lovely expression. The gentle Adante finish with its subdivision of beats results in a brilliant finish.

A lover and collector of such Concertos, I am delighted to have discovered this one which has captivated my listening and will yours.

Amazing solo talent.......2001-08-17

I originally bought this CD simply for Alex Klein's version of the Strauss Oboe concerto, but found everything else to also be superb. Klein's performance is the best that is out there. His sound is absoultely gorgeous and unparalled by anyone. Matching this sound with his technical mastery, smooth and singing phrases, as well as full dynamic range makes him simply the best oboist around. His interpretation of Strauss's concerto is absolutely breath-taking. I can listen to it over and over again.

The Horn concerto is brilliantly done by Clevenger. His sound rings brilliantly true with the spirit of the instrument. A radiant interpretation of this jubilant concerto.

Combs, McGill, and Barenboim also do excellent work on this CD; however these are the pieces that I listen to less. Nonetheless, their talent shines through and make for stunning performances.

This CD is a prime example of the wealth of talent that the CSO has. Truly a must own CD.

A Spellbinding Recording Of Strauss' Lesser Known Wind Works.......2001-06-16

This is indeed an enchanting recording, showing a Classical side of Richard Strauss little known to most lovers of classical music. And these elegant pieces offer further proof that Barenboim is among our finest interpreters of Strauss' music; either at the podium or at the keyboard. Dale Clevenger, the principal of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's horn section gives a brilliant, lyrical performance of the 1st Horn Concerto that easily conjurs up magnificient performances from the likes of Baumann and Brain. It is indeed a pity that the 2nd Horn Concerto wasn't recorded; instead we hear a great performance of the Oboe Concerto, with the Chicago Sympphony Orchestra's Principal Oboeist Alex Klein that is ravishingly beautiful. Once more Teldec engineers have produced a recording of highest sound quality. It should be regarded as yet another artistic triumph for Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Average customer rating:

Double Reed showcase--Strauss, Mozart, Weber
LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES
Decent but disappointing

Mozart, Strauss, Weber: Wind Concertos

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000029S9
Release Date: 1996-09-24

Tracks:

Concerto For Oboe And Orchestra In C Major, K. 314: I. Allegro aperto
Concerto For Oboe And Orchestra In C Major, K. 314: II. Adagio non troppo
Concerto For Oboe And Orchestra In C Major, K. 314: III. Rondo. Allegretto
Concerto For Oboe And Small Orchestra: Allegro moderato - Vivace - Tempo primo
Concerto For Oboe And Small Orchestra: Andante -
Concerto For Oboe And Small Orchestra: Vivace -
Concerto For Oboe And Small Orchestra: Allegro - Vivace
Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra In B-Flat Major, K. 191: I. Allegro
Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra In B-Flat Major, K. 191: II. Andante ma adagio
Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra In B-Flat Major, K. 191: III. Rondo. Tempo di Menuetto
Hungarian Fantasy For Bassoon And Orchestra: Andante e Rondo ungarese per il fagotto principale, Op. 35. J. 158

Customer Reviews:

Double Reed showcase--Strauss, Mozart, Weber.......2006-03-20

This CD from Sony combines some of the finest recordings of these pieces I have ever heard. These pieces are all at the top of the repertoire for their respective instruments and played by the world's best performers.

The two Mozart concertos here both receive fine interpretations by the Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy conducting his principal musicians, oboist John deLancie and Bernard Garfield. If the orchestra at times sounds a bit heavy, and the tempi a touch slow--because we are now accustomed to hearing these pieces by chamber orchestras and period instruments ensembles--this will be made up for by the exuberant and precise execution of one of the best orchestra-conductor relationships ever. deLancie, carrying the torch from his predecessor Marcel Tabuteau, proves that he was certainly one of the leaders in a generation of great oboists which include John Mack, Ray Still, Harold Gomberg. deLancie's phrasing is beautiful, his sound warm, and gives an all-around artful performance, especially in the delightful closing rondo movement. Garfield also shines in Mozart, with a beautiful rich bassoon tone that is always singing, both in the low and high registers of his instrument. Garfield and the Philadelphia Orchestra also do a wonderful job with Weber's Hugarian Rondo. Garfiled gives great character to some of the variations, always with great technique. It is hard to say enough praises about these two stellar soloists caught in classic recordings from the early 1960s.

But there is more... The author of the liner notes writes that Strauss' concerto is a "liquid, constantly developing essay into the very nature of the oboe itself, as well as the orchestra which surrounded it... they play 'into' one another, the oboe dovetailing here and there into the orchestral texture, which itself emerges and submerges according to the musical demands of the journey. It is as if throughout all of his previous orchestral writing... Strauss had been preparing to write this work, polishing his knowledge of and challenging each instrument to its maximum capacity." I don't think there is a better description of this piece, and that is exactly the way the performers do it. Neil Black hands over a spectacular version of this devilishly difficult Strauss Oboe Concerto backed by the English Chamber Orchestra and Daniel Barenboim. Black's playing is so smooth and beautiful that you will not notice the taxing long phrasing and awkward breathing patterns required of the oboist. Barenboim is no doubt intimately familiar with Strauss' large orchestra and operatic works from his conducting career, and he leads one of the world's finest chamber orchestras in an intimate and colorful orchestra accompaniment. With Barenboim's genius baton, the orchestra interacts intimately with the soloist the way Strauss intended, and the recording balance is perfect. In my opinion, the over all soloist-orchestral execution in this recording of the Strauss Concerto is only matched by Ray Still's recording, whose recording on Virgin is also available at a great price.

While I know that there are other great recordings of these pieces (I am a double reed player) this album is really a special treat--so much great double reed playing on one CD! With 74 minutes of music at $6.98, this CD is also a tough deal to beat. It should definitely be in your collection.

LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES.......2002-07-09

These recordings are some of the finest examples of double reed performance bar none. You have recordings by some of Americas greatest double reed performers and one of the truest examples of the "Philadelphia" school of wind playing. The significance in this is that the American School of oboe performance comes from the Philadelphia school through Marcel Tabuteau, who was John de Lancie's teacher. When you hear de Lancie's unsurpassed and flawless artistry, you hear Tabuteau. Bernard Garfield is a true living ledgend and in my opinion there is no better recording of the Mozart Concerto or the Hungarian Rondo than his. His sound is pure, sweet, and without equal. His level of music making is such that you begin to forget that it is a bassoon that is singing to you and that it is something else all together transcending that. I would strongly urge all oboists, bassoonists, and lovers of fine music making, to purchase this CD. These recordings stand the test of time.

Decent but disappointing.......2001-08-17

John de Lancie's playing has varied a lot over time, and his sound was constantly evolving over his career. This recording early in his career with the Philadelphia Orchestra of the Mozart Oboe Concerto is fairly poor. His tone is nasal and weak and his performance gives very little life to this sparkling concerto. Phrasing and dynamics are practically nonexistent. His tempos are also too slow in the 1st and 3rd mvmts. I prefer Lothar Koch's version with the Berlin Phil over this one.
Neil Black's recording of the Strauss Concerto is better, but has some obvious problems. His tempo and phrasing seem agitated at times, and he seems unsure in the high range and difficult passages. However, this is probably the most difficult piece in the oboe repetoire, and Black pulls together a decent performance. If you want to hear how this piece was meant to sound, I recommend the Alex Klein recording with CSO. The Bassoon pieces are both well done by Garfield. Overall decent, but disappointing. There are much better recordings out there, especially for the Mozart oboe concerto. Nonetheless, I have yet to find a fully satisfying recording of the Mozart. Two stars for de Lancie's performance and three for the rest.

Richard Strauss: Concertos For Wind Instruments

Average customer rating:

Richard Strauss: Concertos For Wind Instruments

Manufacturer: Claves
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00008EWNB
Release Date: 1994-04-05

Average customer rating:

Richard Strauss: Concertos For Wind Instruments

Manufacturer: Claves
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000009JQZ
Release Date: 1990-01-01

Average customer rating:

Strauss: Horn Concertos

Manufacturer: Classics for Pleasur
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003X3B
Release Date: 1995-08-22

Tracks:

Con No.1 in E Flat, Op.11: I. Allegro
Con No.1 in E Flat, Op.11: II. Andante
Con No.1 in E Flat, Op.11: III. Allegro
Duet Con: I. Allegro Moderato - Joy Farrall/Julie Andrews
Duet Con: II. Andante - Joy Farrall/Julie Andrews
Duet Con: III. Rondo. Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Joy Farrall/Julie Andrews
Ser in E Flat, Op. 7 - David Pyatt/Joy Farrall/Julie Andrews
Con No. 2 in E Flat: I. Allegro
Con No. 2 in E Flat: II. Andante Con Molto
Con No. 2 in E Flat: III. Allegro Molto

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