Originally recorded in 1993, this set of
Vivaldi oboe concertos appeared on the old Musical Heritage label and has both virtues and problems that were common in its catalog. Amateurish sound is among the latter, and so is the rather faceless ensemble accompaniment by the obscure New Brandenburg Collegium. This reissue by the Chicago-based Cedille label, apparently the result of oboist
Alex Klein's long residence in the Windy City, doesn't do the sound any favors, but there are plenty of reasons to pick the album up on this go-round. Primary among them is
Klein's playing. In his own notes,
Klein points out that these concertos contain technical difficulties that exceed anything in the works of Albinoni, known as a virtuoso oboist, or Alessandro Marcello; they are perhaps the most challenging works for a wind instrument in the 18th century, and
Klein plays them for everything they're worth. These are not fully idiomatic performances, but they capture the full virtuoso aspect of the music with sweeping lines and pushed tempos that put one in mind of the over-the-top violin concertos of the period by the likes of Francesco Maria Veracini. He's backed by conductor (and presumably harpsichordist, although the packaging is silent on this matter)
Anthony Newman, whose booming sound has fallen somewhat out of fashion but happens to fit this particular performance beautifully. There are a few other good recordings of
Vivaldi's oboe concertos, but for students of the modern oboe who want to hear a master bring the music to life, this may be the one of choice.