Karen Geoghegan on CD

Product Information

Chandos signed Karen Geoghegan as an exclusive artist in 2007 following her wonderful performances on the BBC TV ‘The Classical Star’ programme. This is her fourth recording with the label, following her CD of works by Hummel, Weber, Berwald, Jacobi, Elgar and Gershwin, her CD of French music for bassoon and piano, and her contribution, in the Suite-Concertino in F major, to Noseda’s Wolf-Ferrari CD. All of these received much acclaim, and the expressive maturity and sensitivity of her playing have quickly cemented her status as a rising star:

Whereas Mozart’s work is widely recognised as the veritable cornerstone of the bassoon repertoire, the compositions by Crusell and Kreutzer are little-heard but distinguished vehicles for the instrument. Rossini’s Bassoon Concerto was completely unknown until relatively recently. It was only in the early 1990s that it came to light among a nineteenth-century collection of manuscripts that had been archived at the library in Ostiglia, near Mantua. Vigorous and exhilarating, but with a dreamy and pensive second movement, this Concerto was a real find. In the third movement, Rossini puts the bassoon through some hair-raising paces across the whole range of its available register, before finally providing a satisfyingly high-spirited ending to an intriguing work.

Rezensionen

"... These are some of the most delightful and pleasing pieces for the instrument. Ms Geoghegan has certainly begun to make a name for herself, and I am sure there is more to come." David Schwartz - American Record Guide March / April 2011

“…It’s quite rare for bassoonists to have the opportunity to perform and record their repertoire, particularly for one so young, but Geoghegan is amply repaying the faith Chandos obviously has in her. This disc continues the fairy-tale outcome for Geoghegan and her Cinderella instrument of the orchestra and is worth exploring, particularly for the rarer repertoire.” Mark Pullinger
International Record Review - December 2010

"...Sound is exceptionally well balanced. In front of admirably fresh of orchestral textures (special paudits to high horns in Mozart) the bassoon stands out with almost three-dimensional clarity." George Pratt
BBC Music Magazine - Christmas - 2010

“A brilliant disc” Michael Tumelty
The Herald (Scotland) - 8 November 2010