Customer Reviews

Handel Oboe Sonatas

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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The first thing that strikes you when listening to this cd is how nice a barock oboe can actually sound. Gonzalo Xavier Ruiz plays with perfect intonation, a nice controlled use of ornamentation and a unique singing quality on this tricky instrument.

Furthermore, it is nice that Mr. Ruiz decided to make this a thorough Handel album because there is enough variation in Handels sonatas to actually make his works worth listening to for a whole hour.

The accompanying basso continuo group is great, with a crispy archlute, harpsichord and cello. In one sonata the harpsichord player even plays the organ instead. Of course this adds a new sound to this very fine cd.

Finally, the recording is crystalclear and it feels like being in that very same room as these four sophisticated and wonderful musicians.

This collection of Handel Oboe Sonatas is in it's second pressing. The music is excellent and the interpretation is spot on. Gonzalo Ruiz is one of the best baroque Oboeists. He is part of the Philharmonia Baroque orchestra too.

This is an enjoyable CD. Handel is always great, but I was not familiar with his oboe sonatas. These compositions are arranged for a small ensemble of chamber music instruments including oboe, not just a solo oboe playing alone (as the name "sonata" might suggest). I can leave this CD on auto-repeat for hours for background music while I am working, without getting tired of it (so far). If you like baroque music, try this CD!