Petr Eben: Chamber Music for Oboe

7 reviews for Petr Eben: Chamber Music for Oboe

1. Fanfare Magazine :

   ‘Marlen Vavříková is a fine oboist and is well supported by her colleagues. Her tone is strong and colorful; …The works on this disc are ordered to go from merely charming to vibrant and pithy. Eben’s music is very much worth getting to know.’

   —James H. North, Fanfare Magazine

2. American Record Guide :

   ”This program surveys the wind output of prolific Czech pianist-organist-cellist-composer Petr Eben (1929-2007), whose music is well worth hearing. …What his works have in common is craftsmanship. …Marlen Vavrikova is a master of the oboe. …Both Vaclav Vonasek and John Clapp are solid bassoonists; Ivana Dohnalova’s harp-playing is celestial; Radana Foltynova is a sensitive and expressive pianist; and the other three members of the Grand Valley Winds are also radiant. …This disc is recommended, and not just to oboists. […]

   In Eben’s case, the general descriptive term “neoclassical” does not exclude other elements of postwar modernism such as atonality, quarter tones, and aleatory. What his works have in common is craftsmanship. Since Eben’s chamber works tend to be brief, it’s possible to hear many of them here. …Marlen Vavrikova is a master of the oboe… Both Vaclav Vonasek and John Clapp are solid bassoonists; Ivana Dohnalova’s harp-playing is celestial; Radana Foltynova is a sensitive and expressive pianist; and the other three members of the Grand Valley Winds are also radiant. …This disc is recommended, and not just to oboists.’

   —Todd Gorman, American Record Guide, January 2014

3. MusicWeb International :

   ‘In the hands of a composer with as much natural talent as Eben these compositions are simply superb in their exploration of all that the oboe can achieve. […]

   As I said at the outset this is a magnificent disc. If there are any ‘Eben virgins’ out there they should take the opportunity of getting to know his music. His reputation as one of the world’s greatest organists and improvisers was often overshadowed his compositional achievements. The present disc offers some fabulous music. It is the perfect place to start an exploration of this composer. As for existing Eben fans, they will not hesitate in adding this disc to their collection especially with its five first recordings. The musicians are all first class players while the star of the show is undoubtedly Marlen Vavříková who delivers superb élan, verve and seemingly boundless enthusiasm. Her bell-like clarity gives the music a luminescent quality that is simply staggering. I cannot praise this disc too highly.’

   —Steve Arloff , MusicWeb International

4. WDR 3 Ton Art :

   ‘Oboist Marlen Vavrikova plays with a simple and pure tone […] She consistently avoids in her interpretation any hint of romanticizing pathos, but always plays the many lyrical passages clearly, with absolute accuracy and strong expressivity. […] This new CD of oboe chamber music by Peter Eben unfolds a wide stylistic arc—from the folklike miniature to the virtuosic brilliant piece. Oboists especially will discover on this CD an exciting, mostly unfamiliar repertoire for their instrument. But also for anyone who wants to get to know this composer, hardly known in our country, this CD is warmly recommended.’

   —Jan Ritterstaedt WDR 3 Ton Art

5. Ensemble :

   ‘This kaleidoscope of various styles, with several compositions as premiere recordings, is presented with exquisite phrasing and appealing interpretation by a dynamic oboist who mainly works in the USA and her colleagues.’

   —Diether Steppuhn, Ensemble

6. International Record Review :

   ‘Vavikova is a very fine oboist indeed, with beautiful,round, singing tone and an extended range of colour.’

   —International Record Review

7. Harmonie :

   ‘Petr Eben patří ke skladatelům, jejichž dílo nás může provázet od dětských let až ke stáří, ne-li ke smrti – mezi jeho opusy najdeme jak skladby pro děti, tak Mši za zemřelé. Zasáhl snad do všech žánrů a nutno říci, že velmi vyrovnaně, invenčně a osobitě. Kompletní nahrávka jeho komorního díla pro hoboj dokresluje obraz skladatele, jehož inspirace byla jednotná a dlouhodobě usazená, ale ve zpracování pestrá, vždy měla ducha, často i humor. Je to vytříbená skladatelská práce a zároveň je v ní cosi nedefinovatelného, čemu bychom mohli říct ryzí české muzikantství. […]

   Marlen Vavříková si s Ebenovou hudbou dobře rozumí, interpretka a skladatel se sešli ve vzájemně prospěšném souznění. Vřelý projev, plný tón a krásná kantiléna dělají z dobře napsaných kompozic čirý posluchačský požitek.’

   English translation:

   ‘Petr Eben is one of those composers whose work can accompany us from childhood to old age, if not to death – among his opuses we can find both compositions for children and the Mass for the Dead. He touched upon perhaps all genres and, it must be said, very balanced, inventive and unique. The complete recording of his chamber work for oboe completes the picture of a composer whose inspiration was unified and long-established, but varied in its processing, always with spirit, often with humor. It is a refined compositional work and at the same time there is something indefinable in it, which we could call pure Czech musicianship. […]

   Marlen Vavříková understands Eben’s music well, the performer and the composer have come together in a mutually beneficial harmony. Warm expression, full tone and beautiful cantilena make well-written compositions a pure listening pleasure.’

   —Boris Klepal, Harmonie