BaL 25.10.14 - Strauss: Oboe Concerto

[richardfinegold]

I don't think that this can be the reason rfg ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oboe_concerto

Well, ams, I disagree. I find myself at odds with the other forumites here. It is a nice piece, particularly the lovely slow movement, but hardly a great one.
And I find myself wondering how many recordings of this piece would have been made if the Composer was someone else of lesser stature than R. Strauss.
If this Composer was, say, Gouvy, I suspect there would be less than a quarter of the available recordings than there are now. Lesser works by Major Composers are simply more likely to be recorded than works of comparable worth by minor figures.
Don't let my grousing keep you from enjoying the lovely music, however. I have the recording that came with the Kempe box of what is reputed to be the 'complete' Strauss Orchestral works and I don't feel the need to supplement it.

[Petrushka]

In mentioning the Manfred Clement recording with Rudolf Kempe it's worth pointing out that Kempe himself was an oboist (with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra) and worked under Strauss's direction. I think that this gives his recording a unique status.

[Nick Armstrong]

In mentioning the Manfred Clement recording with Rudolf Kempe it's worth pointing out that Kempe himself was an oboist (with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra) and worked under Strauss's direction. I think that this gives his recording a unique status.

I didn't know that, and I agree. It's going in the CD player now

[gurnemanz]

I didn't know that, and I agree. It's going in the CD player now

It may not be an important masterpiece but the work enchanted me the first time I heard it - a live concert when I was a student at Durham late 60s. I've not kept the programme but it must have been the Northern Sinfonia and no idea who the soloist was but it sent me floating away at the time and continues to have a similar effect.

[Barbirollians]

It is difficult to think of three works written since WW 2 that have made such an impact on the repertoire as Metamorphosen , the Oboe Concerto and the Four Last Songs .

[Flay]

It is difficult to think of three works written since WW 2 that have made such an impact on the repertoire as Metamorphosen , the Oboe Concerto and the Four Last Songs .

I take your point, but that's a bold statement to make around here!

[visualnickmos]

I take your point, but that's a bold statement to make around here!

We thrive on bold statements. It would very dull to be in constant gentle agreement with everything on here!

[Nick Armstrong]

We thrive on bold statements. It would very dull to be in constant gentle agreement with everything on here!

Fat chance!

[Barbirollians]

Ah well - impact on the repertoire and " best works" might be two different questions . I suppose some of Shostakovich's later symphonies could also argue their case and VW 's too .


Meanwhile rediscovering Neil Black's recording with the ECO and barenboim I am won over anew - my favourite performance .

[verismissimo]

It is difficult to think of three works written since WW 2 that have made such an impact on the repertoire as Metamorphosen , the Oboe Concerto and the Four Last Songs .

Peter Grimes, the Purcell Variations and the War Requiem?

[Richard Tarleton]

Peter Grimes, the Purcell Variations and the War Requiem?

Pedant's corner - PG was written during WWll - but yes.....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Barbi has made an excellent and pertinent point - I suppose much depends on which "repertoire" we're talking about - is it accurate to include operas and choral works with orchestral? Or are we discussing recorded repertoire only? In which case, should we exclude Rock and Jazz recordings?

Murky waters, but I would be (genuinely) interested to hear from anybody why they believe that the Oboe Concerto isn't a "masterpiece": where are its deficiencies? What criteria are being used to make such a judgement?

[teamsaint]

This discussion is a clear case demonstating the need for the thus far elusive "message board Venn Diagram" facility.

re Ferneys # 57, location is also a significant factor. Programming in American concert halls does seem to bre noticeably different, to Europe, and I would assume that the UK has very specific biases compared to the rest of Europe in terms of repertoire performed.

[amateur51]

Pedant's corner - PG was written during WWll - but yes.....

Stand by that pedant - what about Vingt regards, Quatuor pour le fin de temps and Turangalîla?

[Barbirollians]

I suspect that the three Strauss works are played more often and in more countries than the Britten and Messaien pieces - hence my reference to the repertoire