CD REVIEW
– ALBRECHT
MAYER
BACH GENERATIONS
BERLIN
BAROCK SOLISTEN
Deutsche
Grammophon 486 4183 [82:49]
A similar
selection of music to this by Mozart was very
favourably reviewed here in April
2021 and, with stays in both the
German classical and pop charts,
is described on the DGG website
as "a huge success". I
hope some of our readers may have
helped in achieving that, and a
majority will share my enthusiasm
for what is on offer now.
This time the
world's leading oboe soloist
turns his attention to the works
of the great Johann Sebastian
Bach and three of his relatives,
thus three generations. Once
again Mayer seems very mindful of
the need for melody in his
choices; the tune being the
thing. He also enjoys performing
music that composers did not
initially create for woodwind and
the album has several examples of
this, eg the three oboe concertos
were written for keyboard
instruments.
Of the eight works
(14 tracks) half are by JS Bach
(1685-1750). Concerto for
Oboe d'amore is referred to
in musicologist Michael Maul's
programme notes as being
"ebulliently playful". Air
from Orchestral Suite (Overture)
No.3 will be immediately
recognisable by many readers, as
probably will be Badinerie
from Orchestral Suite (Overture)
No.2. Choral singers may be
familiar with a tune from his Easter
Oratorio. Also included is a
transcription of a composition
originally attributed to him but
actually written by Gottfried
Heinrich Stölzel (1690-1749).
Carl Philipp
Emmanuel Bach (1714-1788), the
second-eldest son of JS from his
first marriage, is represented by
his Concerto for Oboe,
Strings and Basso continuo in G
major, while a similarly
titled work in B flat major is by
Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach
(1732-1795), the second-youngest
son of 13 children JS had with
his second wife after his first
wife died, and a virtuoso
harpsichordist. The final more
solemn work is by the oldest Bach
of the four, Johann Christoph
(1642-1703), JS's first cousin
once removed, who was also a
well-known church organist.
Herr Mayer's
playing on oboe, oboe d'amore and
English horn (cor anglais) sounds
stunning right through the album,
with agile accompaniment from the
excellent Berlin Baroque Soloists
led by violinist and
concertmaster Gottfried von der
Goltz. The rather attractive
sleeve and booklet both have
photos that all include trees or
leaves, so befitting the family
tree aspect of the release. The
last page of the booklet shows
the oboist in front of a tree
pointing upwards to the words
"Soli Deo Gloria"
(Glory to God alone).
A sign of these
inflationary times: this is the
most expensive single disc I have
bought, but also one of the
longest to have reviewed and well
worth the outlay for the pleasure
it has given me.
©
Peter Burt, August 2023
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