The Galant Bassoon

01/08/2009
Robert E. Benson
Classical CD Review (US)

Melba's latest disk is called The Galant Bassoon, a title that hardly suggests the contents: music of Telemann, J. S. Bach and C. P. E. Bach. Only one work was written originally for the instrument: Telemann's Sonata in F minor—although the composer indicated it also could be performed on a recorder two octaves higher. The two other Telemann works originally were written for viola da gamba, those by the Bach family for flute. All of these transcriptions are played masterfully by Matthew Wilkie, principal bassoonist with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Sydney Symphony, assisted by harpsichordist Neal Peres Da Costa and double bassist Kees Boersma. Lovely performances, warmly recorded with the sonic beauty we have come to expect from Melba.