Antonio ROSETTI (1750-1792)
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in B flat major (Murray C72) [15:06]
Concertino for Bassoon and Orchestra in E flat major (Murray C68) [14:43]
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in C major (Murray C67) [12:28]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in B flat major (KV 191/186e) [15:21]
Kurpfalzisches Kammerochester, Orchestra/Eckhart Hubner (bassoon)
rec. Mannheim, Johanniskirche, 23-26 January 2012
CPO 777 742-2 [57:46]
Eckhart Hubner, music professor at the University of the Arts in Berlin, is
the featured bassoonist on this recording and also conducts. He performs with
Kurpfalzisches Kammerochester, the well-known 12 piece chamber string ensemble
based in Mannheim.
The bassoon has been described in many ways. Heinrich Christoph Koch called
the bassoon the “instrument of love” (Musikaliches Lexikon, 1802)
because of its gentleness of nature. At the other extreme, the instrument
has been labelled as “the buffoon of the wind family” (The Musical
Companion, 1984). A friend of mine once compared a bassoon solo to a sneeze
- you know it’s coming but you can’t do anything about it. Even
though solo works for the bassoon are rare, this disc features four concertos
written primarily for the instrument. This CD features three concertos by
Rosetti and one by Mozart and all of them are composed and performed in the
same style. These are classical, highly structured works that follow the pattern
of the times in which they were written: late 1700s. These pieces can best
be described as light and airy. Listening to them brings a sense of wonder,
hopefulness and optimism.
These concertos are in three movements. The first is lively or fast, followed
by a slower second and a finale that picks up the pace and is played fast,
typically as a rondo. The soloist plays against a contrasting orchestra to
develop the melodies, usually slightly ahead of and leading the orchestra,
which follows and harmonizes in accompaniment.
If the bassoon is the instrument of love, then B flat could be the key of
romance. Both Rosetti and Mozart composed beautiful concertos in B flat, and
Eckhart demonstrates remarkable ability, dexterity and range. Mozart’s
Bassoon Concerto is more demanding for both the soloist and the ensemble.
It contains longer solo runs for the bassoon in both the first and third movements.
This piece is one of the most well-known compositions for the instrument and
is often used for bassoon auditions.
Rosetti’s Concertino in E flat major has a rather slow and sad second
movement. Performed in the key of C minor, the deep echoing of the bassoon
stands in sharp contrast to the delicate violins. This movement will draw
the listener back particularly for that beautiful bassoon solo.
The liner-notes are by Gunther Grunsteudel in German and have been translated
into English by CPO regular Susan Marie Praeder.
Bruce McCollum
A sense of wonder, hopefulness and optimism.