Albrecht Mayer performs Bozza, Fauré, Koechlin and Others
Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924) Sicilienne Op. 78 (1898) [3:26]; Pavane
Op. 50 (1887) [4:45]; Berceuse Op. 16 (1879) [3:12]; Vocalise-etude (1906)
[3:02]; Après un rêve ("Dans un sommeil"), Op. 7/1 (1877) [3:03];
Les berceaux Op. 23/1 (1879) [2:21]; Le secret ("Je veux que le matin
l'ignore le nom") Op. 23/3 (1881) [2:06]; Au bord de l'eau ("S'asseoir
tous deux au bord du flot") (1875) [1:44]; Clair de lune Op. 46/2 (1887)
[3:01]
Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) Sonata for oboe and piano in
D major, Op. 166 (1921) [12:31]
Gabriel PIERNÉ (1863-1937) Serenade in A major, Op. 7 [2:45];
Piece, for oboe and piano, Op. 5 (1884) [2:33]; Fantasie Pastorale, for oboe
and piano [6:50]
Paul PIERNE (1874-1952) Fantasie Pastorale for Oboe and Piano
[6:45]
Erik SATIE (1866-1925) Gymnopedies (3) (1888) [5:41]
Eugène BOZZA (1905-1991) Fantasie Pastorale, for oboe and piano,
Op. 37 [6:28]
Charles KOECHLIN (1867-1950) Au Loin, song for English horn
and piano, Op. 20/2 (1896-1900) [4:50]
Albrecht Mayer (oboe)
Karina Wisniewska (piano)
rec. Kleiner Sendesaal, SFB Berlin, February 2000
TUDOR 7067 [74:07] 
It is a shame that this unhackneyed collection of French music for oboe and
piano has been overlooked. The Swiss company Tudor apply their usual exemplary
production standards to recording and documentation. Artistic matters are
in the hands of two dedicated musicians. Bamberg-born Mayer produces a full-throated
quality but going by the initial Fauré tracks tends to scout over emotional
expression. The Sicilienne could have been touching if the emotional
agenda had been painted in. The Pavane feels rushed. The Berceuse
is on the other hand quite pleasing with the note production being both
curvaceous and penetrating. Wisniewska’s piano sound is rounded; not harsh.
The Saint-Saens Sonata seems congealed in the first movement but in the other
two is perfectly gracious. There is a gamin cheeky finale with strange echoes
of Beethoven’s Fifth. Is Saint-Saens lampooning Beethoven? Then we are back
to Fauré with a sequence of five song transcriptions. Après un rêve is
heavy-lidded and weighed down with sleepy contentment. Le secret is
suitably grave with the music carrying a faintly melancholy tincture. Au
bord de l'eau explores an elusive mood though the faint clicking of the
oboe’s key mechanism can be heard and does return you to earth. Clair de
lune is a brisk and pleasant stroll of a piece; not ardent. Mayer’s oboe
here takes on the opulence of its cousin up the road, the clarinet. There
are two Pierné’s represented in this recital Gabriel’s Serenade has
an Iberian accent – more Massenet than Ravel. The Pièce sounds rather
Tchaikovskian with a surprisingly brusque role for the piano. Fantasie
Pastorale is by Paul Pierné. It radiates elysian calm – superbly done
by the two players. The Satie pieces are well enough known. Here that sentimentality
deficit I mentioned earlier is again in evidence though I did note that Wisniewska’s
insight provided emotional contrast – listen to the way she gives face to
a simple note cell in Gymnopédie 2. Bozza’s Fantaisie Pastorale
is so much more than the shallow display piece I had braced myself for.
It surveys stygian Bax territory, moves into showers of fanciful curlicues
and culminates in a magically poised and elfin close. Koechlin’s Au Loin
is for English horn and piano. It is splendidly ermine-dark and languid.
The melodic material might remind some listeners of Bax’s In The Faery
Hills.
Rob Barnett
It is a shame that this unhackneyed collection of French music for oboe and piano has been overlooked.