Telemann: Concerto TWV 51:d1 in D minor for oboe, strings & b.c.

Heinz Holliger, the Swiss composer and oboist has made a huge contribution to the rediscovery of little known and neglected works for the instrument. He has also been responsible for many new compositions for the oboe, and his repertoire ranges from the baroque as heard on these 3 CDs, through the classical era of Stamitz, Krommer, Hummel, Moscheles, Mozart, Bellini and Fiala to the avant-garde where he has worked closely with Pierre Boulez.

The oboe was developed from the medieval Shawn, which was a development of the Arabic instruments that would have been heard by crusaders in the Middle East during the 12th-14th centuries.

The earliest ‘modern’ oboes appeared in the 1660s, and it had by this time adopted a more flexible and softer sound making it possible to play together with violins. Its popularity spread from France where these innovations to the instrument took place, to Germany and importantly to centres of musical excellence in Italy – notably Venice where composers such as Lotti, Marcello and Albinoni worked. The Venetian musical scene inspired Bach – he adapted Vivaldi concertos for the keyboard, and Marcello’s concertos may well have provided the inspiration for his own concertos BWV1053/5/9.

Booklet essay.

Recordings made in 1981, 1982 and 1986.

‘I found plenty of things to enjoy in Holliger’s performances of these oboe concerto reconstructions. His sensibility to Bach’s melodic line together with a formidable technique to sustain it make for playing which is anything but routine – his account of the slow movement of the F major Concerto (BWV1053) is as lyrical as one could wish for’ (Bach) Gramophone, January 1986

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this LP, especially on account of Holliger’s mastery of his instrument and for the opportunity of hearing three unfamiliar concertos’ (Telemann) Gramophone, May 1983

'My entire relation to music is such that I always try to go to the limits' (Heinz Holliger)

The artistry of Holliger (b.1939) prompted Evelyn Rothwell (Lady Barbirolli) to call him 'The Paganini of the oboe' Holliger's mastery of the oboe ranges over a vast expanse of repertoire, from the baroque to contemporary -- Bach to Berio and Zelenka to Zimmermann. His style is notable for its flexibility, agility, integrity and ability to communicate convincingly across the wide range of repertoire he performs. Holliger has done much to champion the oboe music of composers such as Zelenka and Krommer, and has also had over 100 works composed for him by composers including Berio, Carter, Henze, Ligeti, Lutoslawski, Penderecki and Stockhausen.

This 10CD collection provides a superb showcase for his artistry, spanning nearly 250 years of repertoire from the well known to the obscure, and to every one of the works here his unique and phenomenal technique to makes the interpretation sound effortless and flawless.

Other information

- Extensive booklet notes on each work, and a biographical essay on Holliger

- 'This is an enchanting performance: I do not believe that among modern recordings there is a better' Gramophone, November 1985 (Mozart Oboe Quartet)

Brilliant Classics presents a fantastic set of popular Baroque music at super budget price. These 25 CDs feature energetic performances and thoroughly researched interpretations by specialist early music ensembles.

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) was one of the most prolific composers of the Baroque period, rivalling Vivaldi in his industry. He studied languages and science at Leipzig University, and was largely self-taught as far as music was concerned. In 1704 he became organist of the New Church in the city, and founded a students music society, called Collegium Musicum. After several other appointments in Germany, including Bayreuth, Eisenach and Frankfurt, he became director of music at the Johanneum in Hamburg, and organist at 5 major churches in the city. A tireless traveller, he visited Berlin many times and in 1737 went to Paris.

He was a friend, colleague and, through marriage a relation to J.S Bach. His huge output includes over 40 operas, 44 Passions, 12 sets of services for the year, cantatas, Psalm settings, keyboard music for organ and harpsichord and many inventive concertos and overtures.

This 29CD set provides a superb introduction to this master of the Barock. He often suffers in comparison to Bach, Handel and Vivaldi mainly because it is so difficult to know where to start with such a vast body of work.

This Brilliant Classics box set makes the Telemann experience all the more enjoyable by making this selection and providing a wonderful window into the world of this great composer.

CDROM includes booklet essays and sung texts.

Artists include Heinz Holliger, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Iona Brown, Otto Sauter, Amsterdam Bach Soloists, Wiener Akademie, Martin Haselböck, Barbara Schlick, Musica Antiqua Koln, Reinhard Goebel, Fabio Biondi and others.