Johann Georg LICKL: Three Oboe Quartets, Op. 26
Johann Georg Lickl (1769–1843) was born not far from Vienna, where he studied with Haydn and Albrechtsberger. He also spent the first part of his career there, as an organist and composer of music for the theatre and the church. In 1805 he took up the post of regens chori in Fünfkirchen (now Pécs in Hungary) and stayed there for the rest of his life. The Cassation for winds on this recording was once thought to have been written by Mozart, which gives some indication of the quality of Lickl’s work and suggests that further exploration of his large output is overdue. This first recording dedicated to his elegant and spirited music is a step in that direction.
Featuring:
Lajos Lencsés, oboe
Soloists of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Listen To This Recording:
Three Quartets for Oboe and String Trio, Op. 26 (c. 1795)
-
Quartet No. 1 in C major
- I Allegro
- II Andante un poco adagio
- III Rondo. Allegro assai
- I Allegro assai
- II Adagio
- III Polonaise
- I Allegro giusto
- II Adagio
- III Allegretto
- I Adagio–Allegro
- II Minuetto–Allegro
- III Adagio
- IV Polonese
- V Finale: Presto
- I Moderato
- II Menuetto: Moderato
- III Rondeau
Quartet No. 2 in G major
Quartet No. 3 in F major
Cassation in E at major for oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon (publ. 1795)
Trio in E flat major for clarinet, horn and bassoon (?1790s)
Niall Hoskin :
What a delightful introduction to this ‘Kleinmeister’. The Cassation once attributed to Mozart sounds nothing like Mozart, but is a fine piece; and the oboe quartets are lovely, though probably best not all consumed at one sitting.
The playing is centred on Lajos Lencses, a fine oboist indeed; and his colleagues from the Stuttgart RSO are a fine collection of individual players who form a sympathetic ensemble.
Classic Toccata territory, this: a genuine revelation
MusicWeb International :
‘This is nearly unknown but wonderful and sophisticated music, by a minor master. The performances are world class.’
—Richard Kraus, MusicWeb International
Hong Kong Double Reeds :
‘I have always had a soft spot for oboist Lajos Lencsés. He has been an extremely prolific recording artist, and his recorded output includes many obscure works, new and old. In fact, in my formative years as an oboist, I learned a fair chunk of the repertoire listening to his recordings. […]
All in all, this album is a revelation. These quartets by Lickl are a breath of fresh air from the usual affairs of Mozart and Krommer. Thank you, Lajos Lencsés, again for expanding the oboe repertoire on record and for the excellent performance.’
—Wai Kit Leung, Hong Kong Double Reeds