Various orchestras and conductors
OBOE CLASSICS CC2039
Not only was Janet Craxton (1929-1981) a superbly gifted oboist, but she was also responsible for bringing to our attention many fine oboe concertos. Here we have four. Rutland Boughton’s of 1936, William Alwyn’s of 1943, Malcolm Arnold’s of 1952, and finally Michael Berkeley’s of 1977. These are recordings from the BBC Archives, with tapes made available by the British Library.
Boughton’s Concerto No 1 for Oboe and Strings was composed for Leon Goossens and is in three movements. Jeremy Palmear, in his personal and detailed notes, found loosely inside the disc’s packaging, describes the surprising opening as in ‘full tilt’. However once into the second subject and in the beautifully elegiac Adagio espressivo second movement, and in the country dance of the finale, one realises that this is a late romantic, English pastoral work. It is typical of its composer and is an easy listen. Craxton’s expressive quality and vibrant articulations mark out this wonderful 1978 performance with the BBC Concert orchestra under Owain Arwel Hughes.
The notes comment that Alwyn’s Concerto for Oboe, String Orchestra and Harp is a nostalgic, pastoral work, but there is a steeliness to Craxton’s playing, certainly compared with Nicholas Daniel on Chandos (Chan 8866). But this piece was composed whilst Alwyn was serving as an air-raid warden and sleeping out in hazardous conditions, so this approach could be quite appropriate. The first movement is an Andante with that lush orchestration you might know from the composer’s 3rd and 4th Symphonies. The ensuing Vivace is dance-like and light textured but it reverts to its opening mood a couple of minutes before the end. The undated recording by BBC Wales under John Carewe sounds a little under rehearsed.
Malcolm Arnold’s Concerto Op 39 has the usual three movements with the middle one being a brief, virtuoso vivace. The outer ones are a little enigmatic but also very lyrical and often delicately scored. The performance by the BBC Scottish SO under George Malcolm, which is dated ‘before 1966’, is very tidy and clearly recorded.
Michael Berkeley’s Concerto for Oboe and Strings is a 1979 recording by the BBC Northern SO under Raymond Leppard. It also has three movements with the finale called an Elegy In Memoriam Benjamin Britten who was Berkeley’s godfather. The substantial first movement is mostly elegiac in nature, and the beautiful third almost nostalgic. The middle one, a Scherzo, lifts the mood convincingly. One final thought is what a tragedy for British music that this wonderful musician, Janet Craxton, died too young. What else might she have achieved?
Review by Gary Higginson