LE BASSON SAVARY
A period instrument recital of early Romantic sonatas for bassoon and piano.
François-René Gebauer (1773-1845) was principal bassoonist of the Paris Opera orchestra for twenty-five years, renowned for his virtuosic technique, and was also a prolific composer. The Sonata No. 3 in D minor is extremely demanding for the period bassoonist, expanding and coaxing the technical limits and lyrical qualities of the instrument and player alike.
Anton Liste studied with the famous Albrechtsberger in Vienna for three years before becoming tutor to the family of a wealthy nobleman, enabling him to develop his talents as composer, conductor and pianist. Despite the title, his sonata is both a duet for equal partners and unequivocally conceived for bassoon.
Lyndon Watts performs on a period bassoon by Swiss maker Walter Bassetto after Savary jeune (Paris, 1823).
Chad Kelly performs on a fortepiano by Belgian maker Chris Maene after Conrad Graf (Vienna, 1817).