Album
Dominik Wollenweber
The Art of English Horn
Digital services
Catalogue Number: SU 4303-2
Published: 15th October 2021
Genre: Classical
Format: 1 CD
This album has received following awards:
- Album of the Week, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (2021)
- OPUS KLASSIK (2022)
Dominik Wollenweber - English horn, Berliner Philharmoniker, conductor Sir Simon Rattle, Collegium der Berliner Philharmoniker, Anna Kirichenko - piano
"The English horn needs a soft, round vibrato ... We are among those who can move people to tears," says Dominik Wollenweber about his instrument. Let us not be misled by the humble conduct, and the absence of laudatory articles and glossy photographs. Wollenweber is one of the world's finest cor anglais players. Claudio Abbado has even labelled him the "best player of all time". Since 1993, Dominik Wollenweber has been with the Berliner Philharmoniker, members of which keep him company throughout the present recording. Conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, the orchestra accompany Wollenweber in Sibelius's wonderful tone poem The Swan of Tuonela. It is difficult to imagine an album dedicated to the English horn without the Largo from Dvořák's New World Symphony or without the solo from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. On the other hand, Bach's Concerto in G major and Schubert's Impromptu No. 3 may come as a surprise, while Jean Françaix's Quartet is simply bound to lift the listener's spirit. If you love the English horn's singularly dark velvety colour, which otherwise can only be heard rather as a gleam of a gem stone on the large canvases of symphonic pieces, then this album is definitely for you. And those who have yet to discover the beauty of the cor anglais will undoubtedly savour the musical menu drawn up by a true master of the instrument.
An irresistibly lovely tone. The English horn in the hands of a true master.
"The English horn needs a soft, round vibrato ... We are among those who can move people to tears," says Dominik Wollenweber about his instrument. Let us not be misled by the humble conduct, and the absence of laudatory articles and glossy photographs. Wollenweber is one of the world's finest cor anglais players. Claudio Abbado has even labelled him the "best player of all time". Since 1993, Dominik Wollenweber has been with the Berliner Philharmoniker, members of which keep him company throughout the present recording. Conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, the orchestra accompany Wollenweber in Sibelius's wonderful tone poem The Swan of Tuonela. It is difficult to imagine an album dedicated to the English horn without the Largo from Dvořák's New World Symphony or without the solo from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. On the other hand, Bach's Concerto in G major and Schubert's Impromptu No. 3 may come as a surprise, while Jean Françaix's Quartet is simply bound to lift the listener's spirit. If you love the English horn's singularly dark velvety colour, which otherwise can only be heard rather as a gleam of a gem stone on the large canvases of symphonic pieces, then this album is definitely for you. And those who have yet to discover the beauty of the cor anglais will undoubtedly savour the musical menu drawn up by a true master of the instrument.
An irresistibly lovely tone. The English horn in the hands of a true master.
Reviews
“Wollenweber besticht auch hier mit seiner wundervollen, satten Tonfarbe, seiner Gestaltung… Man kann allen Freunden und Familienmitgliedern nur danken, dass sie Dominik Wollenweber endlich zu einem Album überreden konnten. Allerdings: einmal im Kopfhörer, besteht dringende Suchtgefahr.”
rbbKultur, December 2021
“Aujourd'hui dans la force de l'âge, il propose un panorama en six tableaux de son instrument. Dès le Concerto en sol majeur (d'après l'Oratorio de Pâques BWV 249), on est séduit par sa sonorité charismatique, trait d'union entre le hautbois et le basson… la transcription de l'impromptu op. 90 n° 3 de Schubert est une véritable réussite, avec un cor anglais dans sa tessiture haute, au sommet de son pouvoir expressif… Wollenweber referme son album seul en scène avec la mélodie du berger placée au début de l'acte Ill de Tristan et Isolde. Une dernière fois, son vibrato moelleux et rond, son phrasé puissamment suggestif nous émeuvent … jusqu'aux larmes.”
Diapason, February 2022
“Charakteristisch ist sein birnenförmiges Schallstück – das ‚Liebesfuß‘ genannt wird. Weil es dem Instrument einen warmen, milden Klang verleiht, der zudem auf eine Weise dunkel und melancholisch werden kann, klagend und schmerzhaft, dass es dem Publikum unmittelbar ans Herz geht. Die Komponisten der Romantik haben darum einige der schönsten Soli für das Englischhorn reserviert – und Dominik Wollenweber bläst sie wie kein zweiter.”
Der Tagesspiegel, February 2022
“The opening item – Bach’s G major Concerto for cor anglais, strings and continuo BWV 249 – takes one’s breath away with the tone and vibrato of the solo line so close to the subtleties of the human voice, a convincing grip on the tempi of the three movements, and with the good cheer of the players clearly used to making music together.”
Dvořák Society, April 2022
|
Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto for Cor Anglais, Strings and Basso Continuo G major BWV 249
|
|||
| 1. | Allegro | 03:40 | |
| 2. | Adagio | 03:38 | |
| 3. | Allegro II | 04:51 | |
|
Antonín Dvořák
Symphony No. 9 E minor Op. 95 From the New World
|
|||
| 4. | Largo | 06:10 | |
|
Franz Schubert
|
|||
| 5. | Impromptu No. 3 G Flat major Op. 90 | 07:21 | |
|
Jean Sibelius
|
|||
| 6. | The Swan of Tuonela. Tone poem Op. 22 | 08:57 | |
|
Jean Francaix
Quartet for Cor Anglais, Violin, Viola and Cello
|
|||
| 7. | Allegro vivace | 03:23 | |
| 8. | Andante tranquillo | 03:28 | |
| 9. | Vivo assai | 03:27 | |
| 10. | Andanino | 02:19 | |
| 11. | Allegro giocoso | 03:22 | |
|
Richard Wagner
|
|||
| 12. | Tristan und Isolde, Act 3. Hirtenreigen auf einer Schalmei. Mässig langsam | 03:31 | |