Widor / Alain / Ibert / Guilmant / Fauré / Barthe / Dubois: Nos Cheres Escales

   in Choir & Organ (Jul, 2015)
The less familiar combination of oboe and organ gets a good outing on this new recording with clever adaptations and arrangements of French romantic pieces. Wit and charm abound in these concert pieces, which include favourites like Faure’s Apres un reve and Berceuse alongside many worthy but less familiar compositions. The main element letting this recording down is the recording quality. I find the organ too present, dominating rather than enveloping the timbre of the oboe. In addition, extraneous noise includes hearing the performers talking between tracks! …