Löfflers recorded concertos by Frantisek Jiranek, Johann Gottlieb, Carl Heinrich Graun, and Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach.
This album continues her survey of oboe music at the various courts in Germany. Previous installments include "Oboe Concerto at the Dresden Court," "The Oboe in Dresden," and "The Oboe in Berlin." This release focuses on the court at Thurn und Taxis.
The House of Thurn und Taxis was an important noble family in central Germany. They developed Europe's postal services in the 1600s. And they controlled it through the 1800s. The family also owned several breweries. $$$
Thurn und Taxis kept an extravagant court, as befitted their status (and bankroll). It included an orchestra stocked with first-rate musicians. Oboe virtuoso Giovanni Palestrini was one of them. Over 100 concertos were written for him by various court composers.
This release presents four of them. Two are by Franz Xaver Kerzelli. These are well-crafted works, written in the breezy Style Galante.
Joan Baptista Pla was from Spain but spent most of his career in Germany and France. Pla was an oboist as well. His concerto leans towards the late Baroque and has a more formal sound. But the oboe part is killer.
The real showpiece, though, is by Theodor von Schacht. His 1786 Concerto for Three Oboes in B-flat major is in the Classical Era style. Schacht uses the three oboes effectively. They toss motives back and forth as often as they harmonize together.
Löffler plays in an easy, natural manner. The music seems to pour out of her. None of these composers are household names, but that doesn't matter. There was some serious music-making going on in Regensburg. I'm glad Löffler brought some of it to light.
Oboe Concertos at the Court of Thurn and Taxis
Xenia Löffler, oboe
Alfredo Bernardini, Micahel Bosch, oboes
Batzdorfer Hofkapelle
Accent ACC 24388
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