Romantic Bassoon: Scandinavian Gems Rediscovered

This release presents four bassoon concertos from the Romantic Period. Specifically, Swedish concertos written in the early 1800s for Frans Carl Preumayr. Preumayr was a virtuoso bassoonist living in Stockholm.

The most familiar composers represented are Franz Berwald and Berhard Crusell (Preumayr's father-in-law). Familiar, that is, if you know Scandinavian classical music. Their works were frequently programmed throughout the region in the mid 1800s.

Édouard Du Puy is a little more obscure. He was born in Switzerland, but Du Pay worked in Copenhagen and Stockholm most of his life.

The fourth composer on the album is Eduard Brendler. He was born in Germany, and his family moved to Sweden when he was an infant. He died age 31. Brendler's catalog of works was small, but showed great promise.

All for pieces were written for the same performer. And that provides a certain consistency among them. They all share a Mendelssohn clarity of construction and melody.

Bassoonist Jaakko Luoma plays with a warm, honeyed tone. This makes slow movements especially delicious. And he can also play with agility when required. And his rapid scale work is always articulate and clear.

I'd recommend this album to just about anyone. If the only Scandinavian composer you know is Edvard Grieg - start here. If you don't think of the bassoon as a solo instrument -- start here. And if you just enjoy the early Romantic style of Mendelssohn and Schumann -- start here.

Bassoon Concertos: Crusell, Du Puy, Berwald, Brendler
Jaako Luoma, bassoon
Tapiola Sinfonietta; Janne Nisonen, concertmaster
Ondine CDE 1481-2