Widerkehr - The Duo Sonatas

SCHNEEMANN, BART
GIACOMETTI, PAOLO

Widerkehr

Physical CD		Price
Normal PCM CD (In stock)		$21.68

Details

Champagne It all really started on that (as usual) rainy Monday morning. Paolo and I were just having fun playing through some pieces we had never seen (what else do you do on a rainy Monday morning?). One of them was a Sonata in e minor by someone named Jacques Widerkehr. Publisher Musica Rara. Never heard of the guy. But what a piece! Melodious, surprising turns of phrase, virtuosity, flashes of humor, and exciting dialogue between piano and oboe. The slow movement is sweet and introverted and the last movement: full of daring, with even an occasional bit of real dramatic writing. All things that we would take for granted in the music of a real genius like Mozart. But with a totally B-list composer like Jacques Widerkehr, it came as a big surprise. The sonata felt very fresh, without any false pretensions. But who exactly is this Jacques Christian Michael Widerkehr? Looked him up in the well known reference work ‘The New Grove’; "Jacques Christian Michael Widerkehr (l’ainé), French composer, born in Strasbourg, Alsace in 1759. Played cello, bassoon, and trombone." And yet…. ‘The New Grove’ isn’t entirely sure about that, because that’s what a certain Philippe Widerkehr (le jeune) played as well. Another French composer, born in Strasbourg, Alsace. Philippe --that must be Jacques’ younger brother. One thing ‘The New Grove’ is sure of: in 1783 Jacques Widerkehr moved to Paris where he was to achieve great fame as a composer. He was among the best-loved composers of the day in France. He owed his reputation to his chamber music, but especially to his "Symphonies Concertantes". These were a novelty: solo concerti not for 1 soloist and orchestra, but for several soloists (from 2 to 7) with orchestra. According to another contemporary source, the "Biographie Universelle des Musiciens" by the critic and historian François Fétis, Widerkehr’s ‘symphonies concertantes’ were considered among the finest in that genre in France for many years......

Additional Information

Main artist	SCHNEEMANN, BART GIACOMETTI, PAOLO
Composer	Widerkehr
Inlay	Jacques Christian Michel Widerkehr (1759-1823) The Duosonatas Sonate nr. 1 in e Sonate nr. 2 in C Sonate nr. 3 in F
Biography	Bart Schneemann was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1954. He completed his studies in The Netherlands with Han de Vries in 1977 and early gained orchestra experience which led to his appointment as principal oboist of the celebrated Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. He held this position until 1996 when he decided to focus on building a career as a soloist. He is founder member of the Fodor Quintet and in 1987, he restyled and increased the artistic range and possibilities of the celebrated Netherlands Wind Ensemble which is recognized as being one of the best wind ensembles in the world. Mr. Schneemann is a master in various fields of music. This fact, among other aspects, made him the unanimous winner of the prestigious 3M Music Laureate Prize in 1991(Theo Loevendie and Ton Koopman were previous recipients of this award). The prize was installed to recognize, reward and stimulate and outstanding musical talent in the Netherlands.
Awards
Quotes	(...) Schneemann and Giacometti are a fine duo, and the oboe has a particularly characterfull sound. Schneemann’s technical comment of the instrument is also marvellous, and his partner is equally adept. These are very stylish and accomplished performances, never dry, and they obviously relish their discovery of this music. (...) (...) I cannot imagine better performances than what we have here. (...) (...) the recorded sound is admirable, if this is the kind of disc which appeals, don’t hesitate. International Record Review (…) Highly recommended. Audiophile Audition (…) Schneemann deserves the highest praise for his ingratiating tone and interpretation (…) Flying Inkpot (…) Ausgezeichnet!! (…) (…) Die instrumenten sind wunderbar und die Musik sehr angenehm. Es wundert also gar nicht das diese CD so gut gelungen ist. Toccata (…) Bijzonder genietbare muziek, prachtig uitgevoerd op een kopie van een hobo uit 1810 en een pianoforte van Lagrasse uit 1815. Ik hoop dat u er net zo van kan genieten als ik, echt een vondst!! Hifi Video Magazine (...) verrassend melodieuze en elegante werkjes (...) (...) wat een zwoele toon – het lijkt waarachtig wel of Schneemann een beetje verliefd is op deze Widerkehr Tijdschrift Oude Muziek (…) melodieën rijkdom, harmonische kleuring, speelse humor en uitdrukkingskracht in deze verrassend frisse, degelijke muziek. De Menuetten zijn juweeltjes (…) Klassieke Zaken (...) charmante stukken van een componist die wist hoe hij het Parijse publiek kon behagen in een vroeg romantische stijl. Alle noten lijken in een sfeer van verliefdheid te zijn geschreven (...) Telegraaf (…) Bart Schneemann plays them with exceptional fluency and neat phrasing, Paolo Giacometti is an accomplished if occasionally mannered partner. The recording is excellent. BBC Music Magazine (…) Widerkehr combineerde zijn muzikale gave met enkele prettige harmonische verrassingen (…) (…) Wat deze cd echter werkelijk de moeite waard maakt is het buitengewoon sprankelende spel van Bart Schneemann en zijn kompaan achter de piano Paolo Giacometti. De sonates die onder handen van mindere goden snel middle-of-the-road zouden kunnen klinken worden nu absolute kunstwerkjes. (…) Luister (…) Bijzonder genietbare muziek (…) HVT (…) Another Schneemann milestone (…) (…) musically this is all you could ask for (…) American Record Guide
Format	Normal PCM CD
Running time	59:32:00
Year of release	2004
Number of cd's	1

Number of cd's:

Year of release:

2004

Running time:

59:32:00

Quotes:

(...) Schneemann and Giacometti are a fine duo, and the oboe has a particularly characterfull sound. Schneemann’s technical comment of the instrument is also marvellous, and his partner is equally adept. These are very stylish and accomplished performances, never dry, and they obviously relish their discovery of this music. (...) (...) I cannot imagine better performances than what we have here. (...) (...) the recorded sound is admirable, if this is the kind of disc which appeals, don’t hesitate. International Record Review

(…) Highly recommended. Audiophile Audition (…) Schneemann deserves the highest praise for his ingratiating tone and interpretation (…) Flying Inkpot

(…) Ausgezeichnet!! (…) (…) Die instrumenten sind wunderbar und die Musik sehr angenehm. Es wundert also gar nicht das diese CD so gut gelungen ist. Toccata

(…) Bijzonder genietbare muziek, prachtig uitgevoerd op een kopie van een hobo uit 1810 en een pianoforte van Lagrasse uit 1815. Ik hoop dat u er net zo van kan genieten als ik, echt een vondst!! Hifi Video Magazine (...) verrassend melodieuze en elegante werkjes (...) (...) wat een zwoele toon – het lijkt waarachtig wel of Schneemann een beetje verliefd is op deze Widerkehr Tijdschrift Oude Muziek

(…) melodieën rijkdom, harmonische kleuring, speelse humor en uitdrukkingskracht in deze verrassend frisse, degelijke muziek. De Menuetten zijn juweeltjes (…) Klassieke Zaken

(...) charmante stukken van een componist die wist hoe hij het Parijse publiek kon behagen in een vroeg romantische stijl. Alle noten lijken in een sfeer van verliefdheid te zijn geschreven (...) Telegraaf

(…) Bart Schneemann plays them with exceptional fluency and neat phrasing, Paolo Giacometti is an accomplished if occasionally mannered partner. The recording is excellent. BBC Music Magazine

(…) Widerkehr combineerde zijn muzikale gave met enkele prettige harmonische verrassingen (…) (…) Wat deze cd echter werkelijk de moeite waard maakt is het buitengewoon sprankelende spel van Bart Schneemann en zijn kompaan achter de piano Paolo Giacometti. De sonates die onder handen van mindere goden snel middle-of-the-road zouden kunnen klinken worden nu absolute kunstwerkjes. (…) Luister

(…) Bijzonder genietbare muziek (…) HVT (…) Another Schneemann milestone (…) (…) musically this is all you could ask for (…) American Record Guide