V2: Divertimenti Kv 439b

TRIO ROSEAU

A brilliant start and now the sequel on Vol. 2 with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s complete basset horn trios in arrangements by Ulf-Guido Schäfer for trio d’anches. From the twenty-five individual movements – in part of quite enigmatic transmission – Schäfer has put together two more highly entertaining divertimentos. Deeply moving excerpts from Così fan tutte form a dramatic contrast to the serenade tone of the trios. The trio d’anches consisting of an oboe, a clarinet, and a bassoon is actually a creation of the twentieth century. French composers in particular felt inspired by the homogeneous sound of this ensemble not unlike the sound of the human singing voice. Whether Mozart would have shared their predilection remains speculation – but not the fact that his music creates such an authentic impression in Schäfer’s arrangements that it is as if it had been composed in eighteenth-century Vienna. Schäfer himself plays the clarinet in the Trio Roseau – the instrument that so greatly fascinated Mozart during the last years of his life. And so it is precisely in his late operas that we repeatedly encounter demanding solo passages for the winds – a genuine treasure trove for ambitious chamber arrangements. Here the Trio Roseau delves into the long and multifaceted tradition of opera transcriptions for wind ensembles. Since they could be performed in the open air, they already enjoyed great popularity during Mozart’s times. This brand-new Super Audio album conveys a veritable three-dimensional sound picture and brings genuine serenade feeling into the home atmosphere of the living room.

Price: $22.99