Neil Black

[Tony Halstead]

Very sad news. The legendary oboist Neil Black passed away today, aged 84.
One of the greatest musicians I have ever been privileged to work with.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Black

R.I.P.

[Roslynmuse]

That is sad news indeed. A most familiar name from many recordings, particularly with ECO and ASMITF. I only met him once, about four years ago, but he seemed the most gentle and gracious of men.

[Nick Armstrong]

Very sad Tony, sorry to hear that. I shall give this an in memoriam spin this afternoon to listen to you guys weaving the magic together with Murray P

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Very sad Tony, sorry to hear that. I shall give this an in memoriam spin this afternoon to listen to you guys weaving the magic together with Murray P

Good call, Cali.

[jonfan]

You can tell he was a nice person from his playing. Always beautiful and expressive. When Neil Black and Celia Nicklin were together they were matchless in ECO and ASMITF. RIP Neil.

[EdgeleyRob]

Very sad news.

RIP

Vaughan Williams concerto,ECO,Barenboim

[Nick Armstrong]

Good call, Cali.

I'd forgotten what a wonderful work the Mozart Quintet for winds and piano is. One of my favourites by young Wolfgang. And what a magnificent performance. (Recorded in the middle of the night, if I recall correctly Tony?)

RIP Neil Black

[Tony Halstead]

I'd forgotten what a wonderful work the Mozart Quintet for winds and piano is. One of my favourites by young Wolfgang. And what a magnificent performance. (Recorded in the middle of the night, if I recall correctly Tony?)

RIP Neil Black

The recording was planned around a concert at Snape Maltings at the 1983 Aldeburgh Festival. The original plan was that the live performance would be recorded by CBS, followed by a short rest and then a 'patching' session to tidy up any accidents that had maybe happened in the concert.

As it turned out, Murray Perahia, well known to be intensely self-critical ( as well as critical of others!) wanted to 'go back to the top' and record pretty well everything again 'from scratch'. This worked OK for the first 2 movements and then sheer fatigue had set in by the time 1.30am arrived! I seem to remember we just did a few corrections to the live performance take of the 3rd movement and finished by about 2 am! So, what is heard on the CD ( in the Mozart) is, I believe, a recording of the 1st 2 movements primarily without audience and about 95% of the 3rd movement taken from the live performance. If you listen closely, the 3rd movement has a slightly 'deader' acoustic on account of the audience.

The Beethoven Quintet recording (1984) was based once again on an Aldeburgh performance, but the ECO players vetoed ( courteously!) the idea of a 'patching' session extending into the small hours! The patching session then took place the next day, so wasn't anything like as tiring as the Mozart had been.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Vaughan Williams concerto,ECO,Barenboim

Another good call, Edgey.

I'd forgotten what a wonderful work the Mozart Quintet for winds and piano is.

- and unmistakably so in a performance as heart-warmingly Musical as this.

[Alison]

You can tell he was a nice person from his playing. RIP Neil.

Very very true.

[BBMmk2]

I haven't that particular recording, but I will have a look at ECO and ASMF ones I have. Surely he was one top oboe player! RIP