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If the oboe is the lyrical soul of the woodwinds, then oboist Lajos Lencses is one of its most thoughtful caretakers. In the hands of this Hungarian virtuoso you'd never know this challenging double-reed instrument is one of the most temperamental to play. 

The most recent release from Lencses features Baroque oboe concertos by George Frideric Handel and Christoph Forster, accompanied by the Ensemble Instrumental La Follia. This group was formed 30 years ago. It is made up of 16 players led by its artistic director, talented French violinist Christophe Poiget.

After being seduced by the "sweetness and charm" of the oboe, Handel quickly decided it was his favorite instrument. He showcased its full potential beautifully in the three early concertos that appear here. Overall, this group varies its approach on the phrasing, articulation, vibrato and intensity levels with one important goal in mind: to make the music lively. 

Comparing this modern instrument performance to the English Concert's period instrument treatment of Handel's Oboe Concerto No. 4 in B Flat major, you can't mistake the difference. The English Concert's approach is more formal and the group's tempo is much slower. There are times when the performance actually seems to drag in comparison to the Ensemble Instrumental La Follia.

Oboist Heinz Holliger's style on the English Concert disc is smooth and lyrical, with a pure, sweet tone. The same is true of Lajos Lencses.  The Ensemble Instrumental La Follia's clear, bright sound appeals more to my ears. Not only does Handel provide equal balance between the soloist and the orchestra, allowing them to complement one another, he also allows the soloist to float blissfully above the orchestra. Lajos Lencses savors those opportunities, yet he's also a fine ensemble player, knowing how to step back and blend in with the orchestra. Lencses coaxes the purest tone from his instrument, nurturing every note.

Here's another reason you'll want to have this recording on your shelf: It includes two rarely heard oboe concertos by Christoph Forster. Forster was a contemporary of Handel and was influenced by styles of music from all over Europe: German, French and Italian, as heard in the concertos by Corelli and Vivaldi.

An oboist named Richard Lauschmann discovered these two concertos and this recording serves as a tribute to him. Lauschmann helped to expand the repertoire of the oboe by editing and publishing many Baroque and early works for the instrument. According to scholars, the Forster concertos are considered "extreme" concertos.  They require immense technical skill, with tough ornamental notes and breath-taking runs, all of which Lajos Lencses performs with ease. 

Where Handel's concertos integrate the soloist into the ensemble, Forster's concertos leave the soloist much more exposed. You have to be an "extreme" talent to take on these works, and Hungarian Lajos Lencses is suited up and ready for anything that comes his way.

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Julie Amacher

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The most recent release from Hungarian oboist Lajos Lencses features Baroque concertos by George Frideric Handel and Christoph Forster, accompanied by the Ensemble Instrumental La Follia. You have to be an extreme talent to take on these works, and Lencses is suited up and ready.

New Classical Tracks: oboe concertos

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