31 January 2008
Principal Oboe of the Berlin Philharmonic Performs in Gibraltar
The Gibraltar Philharmonic Society in association with Turicum Private Bank is proud to bring the principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic to Gibraltar on Thursday 31 January at 8:30pm. The recital will be held at the Convent Ballroom.
Mr Albrecht Mayer and piano accompanist Mr Alexander Schmalcz are the first to come to Gibraltar in what will be an annual “Berlin Philharmonic Soloists’ Series” of concerts and recitals which on this occasion will feature works by Nielsen, Saint-Saens, Pierne, Schumann and Yvon.
When the subject turns to oboists, his name is now de rigeur: Albrecht Mayer. His playing has both listeners and critics raving with expressions like “divine spark” or the “miraculous oboe” that the German player has elevated to become an “instrument of seduction”. It’s no wonder that Albrecht Mayer today ranks among the most sought-after oboists and has appeared as soloist with Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle and Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
Mr Mayer studied with Gerhard Scheuer, Georg Meerwein, Maurice Bourgue and Ingo Goritzki and began his professional career in 1990 as principal oboist of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra and since 1992 he has occupied the same position with the Berlin Philharmonic.
Along with his solo projects Mr Mayer considers it important to find time for chamber music. He has no dearth of requests and opportunities, and performs regularly with partners and accompanists like pianist Hélène Grimaud, Leif Ove Andsnes and the bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff, with whom he recorded a CD of Bach cantatas.
In his search for new repertoire for his instrument, he is constantly fascinated by the idea of lending his voice (that of the oboe) to “foreign” works – pieces written for other instruments or for singers. In that regard, Mr Mayer, who as a child sang for many years in the Bamberg Cathedral Choir, is especially attracted to the human voice, as the most “natural” of all instruments. He’s already provided convincing proof of that claim in the recording “Lieder ohne Worte” – Bach transcriptions for oboe and orchestra, in which the Baroque style and bel canto are delightfully combined. The CD immediately entered the German classical charts at number 2.
In August 2004 the CD “In search of Mozart” which Albrecht Mayer recorded with Claudio Abbado and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra was released and once again made it to the top of the German classical charts.
His latest recording “Albrecht Mayer: New Seasons” presents music by Georg Friedrich Handel in a stunning new light.
Albrecht Mayer has been elected “Instrumentalist of the Year” and rewarded with an ECHO-Klassik Prize by the German Phono-Akademie.
In December 2006 Albrecht Mayer was awarded with the E.T.A.- Hoffmann-Prize by his German hometown, Bamberg.
Tickets priced at 20 pounds each are now available from The House of Sacarello in Irish Town with Credit/debit card purchases also available by phoning the Society on 72134. A limited number of tickets are also available to Senior Citizens at a reduced price via The John Mackintosh Hall at 308 Main Street.
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