Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
Oboe Concerto in C, K.314
Franz Vinzenz KROMMER
Oboe Concerto in F, op.37, Oboe Concerto in F,
op.52
Sarah Francis (oboe), London
Mozart Players/Howard Shelley
Hyperion Helios CDH55080
[60' 51"]
Crotchet
The Mozart is perhaps better known as the 2nd Flute Concerto.
The oboe version was found by Bernhard Paumgartner in 1920 and doubts have
been raised about its authenticity. Sarah Francis has taken the step of restoring
the oboe part as closely as possible to the flute part, thereby ensuring
that what we hear is at least Mozart. My feeling is that the nature of the
oboe, plus the downward transposition (from D), introduces a certain heaviness
to the attractively mercurial original. So unless you have an overwhelming
preference for the sound of the oboe over that of the flute, I suggest buying
one of the many excellent flute versions available, presumably in tandem
with the 1st Concerto and maybe that for flute and harp as well.
If you feel otherwise, then the Krommer works are not without interest. Their
perky little melodies and agile fingerwork, plus hints of greater depth (in
the central sections of both slow movements) seem to derive from a genuine
understanding of the character of the instrument. And while for much of the
time Krommer speaks the common Haydnesque-Mozartian language of his day he
is also capable of aligning himself with those of his younger contemporaries
like Dussek or Hummel who sidestep Beethoven and look forward to the burgeoning
romanticism of Weber. The last movement of op.52 has a very winning theme
indeed, and this latter master might not have been ashamed to own it.
Performances and recordings are excellent and those attracted by the programme
need not hesitate.
Christopher Howell
