CD Review
Handel (arr. Andreas Tarkmann): New Seasons: Handel for Oboe & Orchestra
- Composer
- Handel (arr. Andreas Tarkmann)
- Artist
- Albrecht Mayer, oboe; Sinfonia Varsovia
- Label
- Deutsche Grammophon
- Catalogue
- 00289 476 5681
- Reviewed by
- Dawn Cooke
In my opinion, humble though it may be, Albrecht Mayer, current principal oboe of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, has to be the finest oboe player to be found on CD. The latest platform for him to show off his phenomenal technique and remarkable musicianship is the recent issue from Deutsche Grammophon: New Seasons. It features arrangements of popular Handel works arranged especially for Mayer following a period of five years’ collaboration with Andreas Tarkmann.
Mayer’s sleeve notes go further in “justifying” this disc and it is obvious he has a real affinity with the music of Handel. The result is four “new concertos” interspersed with favourites such as Lascia ch’io pianga from Rinaldo and Where’er You Walk from Semele.
What is immediately striking is Mayer’s tone; the sound is enormous (this man must have a diaphragm of steel) and the richness of his tone is comparable to the finest chocolate. His sense of phrasing, particularly at the end of phrases, is extraordinary and is not far removed from the human voice. It is not hard to see why this disc has been so well received in Germany already.
The arrangements feature not only the oboe but also the oboe d’amore and cor anglais, and Sinfonia Varsovia provide perfect accompaniment to this truly remarkable musician.
About the arranger
Andreas Tarkmann, born in Hanover in 1956, trained originally as an oboist himself before establishing himself as a composer and arranger, with a particular reputation for reconstructing and orchestrating incomplete works. That background on the instrument itself is worth knowing going into this disc, it helps explain why arrangements built specifically around Mayer’s playing sit so naturally under the oboe rather than reading as a generic transcription of vocal or orchestral lines.
A note on this page
Originally published by Dawn Cooke, recovered from mmmusic's own archive and reproduced here as the critic wrote it.
Questions about this recording
What is New Seasons?
A Deutsche Grammophon disc of Handel's music arranged especially for oboist Albrecht Mayer, the result of a five-year collaboration with arranger Andreas Tarkmann. It pairs four newly arranged concertos with Handel favourites such as 'Lascia ch'io pianga' and 'Where'er You Walk'.
Who is Albrecht Mayer?
At the time of this recording, the principal oboe of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and the reviewer's own pick for the finest oboe player recorded on CD.
What instruments does the disc feature beyond the oboe?
The arrangements also make use of the oboe d'amore and cor anglais, both close relatives of the standard oboe, alongside the primary instrument.
Is this recording still available to buy?
Yes, Deutsche Grammophon's catalogue number 476 5681 remains findable through classical retailers. We don't run an in-house shop, so we link out to Amazon and Discogs below.
