Dominik Wollenweber - The Art of English Horn (2021)

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.
Tracklist
01. Dominik Wollenweber - Concerto for Cor Anglais, Strings and Basso Continuo in G Major: I. Allegro [03:41]
02. Dominik Wollenweber - Concerto for Cor Anglais, Strings and Basso Continuo in G Major: II. Adagio [03:39]
03. Dominik Wollenweber - Concerto for Cor Anglais, Strings and Basso Continuo in G Major: III. Allegro [04:51]
04. Dominik Wollenweber - Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: No. 1, Largo [06:10]
05. Dominik Wollenweber - 4 Impromptus, Op. 90: No. 3 in G-Flat Major, Andante [07:22]
06. Berliner Philharmoniker - The Swan of Tuonela. Tone poem, Op. 22 [08:58]
07. Dominik Wollenweber - Quartet for Cor Anglais, Violin, Viola and Cello: No. 1, Allegro vivace [03:23]
08. Dominik Wollenweber - Quartet for Cor Anglais, Violin, Viola and Cello: No. 2, Andante tranquillo [03:29]
09. Dominik Wollenweber - Quartet for Cor Anglais, Violin, Viola and Cello: No. 3, Vivo assai [03:28]
10. Dominik Wollenweber - Quartet for Cor Anglais, Violin, Viola and Cello: No. 4, Andanino [02:20]
11. Dominik Wollenweber - Quartet for Cor Anglais, Violin, Viola and Cello: No. 5, Allegro giocoso [03:22]
12. Dominik Wollenweber - Tristan und Isolde, Act 3. Hirtenreigen auf einer Schalmei. Mässig langsam [03:31]