Credits:

Nagoya Double Reed Ensemble

Description:

Gorgeous story scroll by oboe and bassoon! Including the entire "Scheherazade"! This is the latest album by the Nagoya Double Reed Ensemble, led by Naoto Yamamoto, the long-time principal oboe player of the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, who has been attracting attention for his ambitious activities. The album features an astonishing complete version of "Scheherazade" performed by nine members of the oboe, oboe d'amore, English horn, bassoon, and contrabassoon. Written in a colorful orchestration, the double reed instruments bring it all to life through Yamamoto's masterful arrangements. The oboe's lustrous tone leads the story, the d'amore sings expressively, the English horn adds depth to the sound, the bassoon embraces the entire piece while maintaining its strength, and the contrabassoon provides the heavy bass that supports the ensemble. The sound is so impressive that it is hard to believe that only double reed instruments are used, and the virtuosity of the musicians is unparalleled. In the rich sound of Shirakawa Hall, the different instruments, each with their own character, are rendered with a lustrous and clear sound. Also included in the coupling are "Dances of the Tatars" and "Flight of the Kumanbachi. Please enjoy the diverse sounds and expressions of Russian music. Naxos Japan