VOCALISE

Music by Handel, Ravel, Schumann, Fauré, Mozart, Bach, Debussy et al Albrecht Mayer (oboe); various artists

DG 479 6843 (2011) 76:33 mins

Principal oboist with the Berlin Philharmonic for over 25 years, Mayer possesses a seamless cantabile and sonic glow that constantly beguile the senses in this wide-ranging programme. might not be to everyone’s taste, yet there is nothing about it that could be regarded as unidiomatic or gratuitous. Kees Bakels and the Gelders Orchestra prove sympathetic accompanists and their textures are delivered with suitable lightness of touch and a welcome transparency.

The Octet – composed when Mendelssohn was all of 16 – is always a joy, and the live performance here, recorded in summer 2016 at the Delft Chamber Music festival, of which Ferschtman is artistic director, is a case in point. The fizz and verve of the piece jump off the page most gratifyingly, with the full complement of driving energy, intimacy, tenderness, humour and bounce. That probably won’t come as a surprise if you look at the line-up of performers – though this critic was thinking ‘gosh, this is terrific’ without having looked at the booklet first to find out who they were. Sound quality throughout the disc is bright, clear and reasonably warm. Jessica Duchen