Britten: Six Metamorphoses after Ovid; Two Insect Pieces; Phantasy for Oboe Quartet; Temporal Variations

Oboists have cause to be grateful to Benjamin Britten for three major works: the strongly shaped single-movement Phantasy with string trio, written in 1932, at the age of 18; the richly inventive Temporal Variations with piano, astonishingly discarded after one performance in 1936 and not published until after his death (along with the slighter but highly entertaining Insect Pieces); and the dazzlingly brilliant unaccompanied Metamorphoses of 1951. The experienced German oboist Gernot Schmalfuss plays all these with sweet tone and nimble fingers – especially evident in the Metamorphoses.

Our rating

3

Published: January 20, 2012 at 1:21 pm

COMPOSERS: Britten
LABELS: Dabringhaus und Grimm Gold
WORKS: Six Metamorphoses after Ovid; Two Insect Pieces; Phantasy for Oboe Quartet; Temporal Variations
PERFORMER: Gernot Schmalfuss (oboe), Mamiko Watanabe (piano); Mannheim String Quartet
CATALOGUE NO: MDG 301 0925-2

Oboists have cause to be grateful to Benjamin Britten for three major works: the strongly shaped single-movement Phantasy with string trio, written in 1932, at the age of 18; the richly inventive Temporal Variations with piano, astonishingly discarded after one performance in 1936 and not published until after his death (along with the slighter but highly entertaining Insect Pieces); and the dazzlingly brilliant unaccompanied Metamorphoses of 1951. The experienced German oboist Gernot Schmalfuss plays all these with sweet tone and nimble fingers – especially evident in the Metamorphoses. But his dynamic range is constricted: he does not achieve a real ppp at his first entry in the Phantasy, yet later he is submerged under the fortissimo of the ardent Mannheim Quartet. And his intonation is occasionally suspect, especially against the inflexible piano in the Variations. On Philips, the great Heinz Holliger finds more in all these pieces, with breathtaking technical aplomb, a greater range of dynamics, and an unfailing sense of fantasy. Moreover, he is matched with more imaginative partners (including the pianist András Schiff), and he throws in a sparkling performance of the Mozart Oboe Quartet – showing up MDG’s niggardly playing time. Anthony Burton

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