Most Celebrated

We are in London in the early 18th century. George Frideric Handel is the celebrated composer, opera entrepreneur and concert organizer there. The world-renowned early music ensemble Concerto Köln and oboist Clara Blessing tell the story of George Frideric Handel, the brothers Giuseppe & Giovanni Sammartini and the development of the oboe on the album “Most Celebrated”.

One day, Handel's orchestra in London gets a new member: the oboist Giuseppe Sammartini, a recent immigrant from Italy to the European music metropolis on the Thames. He had already achieved a certain degree of fame in his home country, but in London he revolutionized oboe playing and helped the instrument achieve a breakthrough. Handel composed for him and Sammartini himself also created several works for his instrument that are still important today.

The music historian John Hawkins described the talent of the oboist Giuseppe Sammartini with the words: “Before his time, the sound of the instrument was coarse, even harsh and unpleasant to the ears in the hands of the most accomplished players; through intensive practicing and playing, and by a special shaping of the reed, he succeeded in producing such a tone that it came closer to the human voice than anyone else.” The specialist for historical instruments Clara Blessing is described in a similar way: Her playing is “full of emotional warmth”, writes the Kölner Stadtanzeiger, “it touches and inspires audiences and the press in concert halls and at festivals worldwide.” Clara Blessing has a long-standing friendship and collaboration with Concerto Köln.

For the album “Most Celebrated”, they have now recorded two concertos by Handel, two of his minuets and three arias and juxtaposed them with an oboe concerto by Giuseppe and two works by his brother Giovanni Sammartini. In addition to the oboe, the horns also play a significant role in some of the pieces. This instrument was already becoming increasingly popular and frequently used at the beginning of the 18th century. Woodwinds and brass alternate and enhance the musical enjoyment with breathtaking coloraturas. “Sometimes I play as a soloist, sometimes in a team with the second oboe, then as a distinct counterpart to the first horn,” explains Clara Blessing in the album booklet ”This mediating role, this flexibility, this quick jump from one costume to the other, that is the core of oboe playing for me.”

Once again, Concerto Köln proves how much passion there is in every single member of the ensemble. For more than 30 years, the orchestra with its unmistakable sound has been one of the leading ensembles in the field of historical performance practice. Firmly rooted in Cologne's musical life and at the same time a regular guest in the world's music capitals and at renowned festivals, Concerto Köln stands for outstanding interpretations of early music.

 

Realease on October 25th

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