DCD 063 – Oh no, the oboe!

Episode #63 of the DCD Classical ‘Cast features two releases with oboist Mark Fink. These CDs from the University of Wisconsin’s record label showcase two themed recitals by Professor Fink. “Music for Oboe and Strings” has Fink joining forces with the Pro Arte Quartet for a selection of works ranging from familiar composers such as Mozart and Britten to lesser-known masters such as Bernhard Henrik Crusell and John Harbison.

“Russian Music of the Twentieth Century” ventures away from purely classical music. Mark Fink performs a sonata for oboe and piano by Boris Asafyev, as well as some traditional folk songs attractively arranged by Victor Gorodinsky. Gorodinsky, a master of the Russian guitar plays some duets with Fink. He also conducts his ensemble, the University of Wisconsin Madison Russian Folk Orchestra, surrounding the oboist with traditional Russian instruments like the balalaika.

The program we play:

Bernhard Henrick Crussell: Divertimento in C major, Op. 9
Mark Fink, oboe; Pro Arte String Quartet
From “Music for Oboe and Strings”
UWMSM

Traditional, arr. Victor Gorodinsky: The Brode Steppe and The Quail
Mark Fink, oboe; Victor Gorodinsky, guitar; University of Wisconsin Madison Russian Folk Orchestra
From “Russian Music for Oboe in the Twentieth Century”
UWMSM

Boris Asafyev: Sonatina for Oboe and Piano
Mark Fink, oboe; Dmitri Novgorodsky, piano
From “Russian Music for Oboe in the Twentieth Century”
UWMSM

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Quartet in F major for oboe, violin, viola and violoncello, KV 370Mark Fink, oboe; members of the Pro Arte Quartet
From “Music for Oboe and Strings”
UWMSM