Pēteris Vasks: Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra

Pēteris Vasks: Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra
English Horn: Takahiro Watanabe
Cond.: Howard Griffiths
Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt

[@mgetz7469]

This by far is the best English Horn player I've heard. Gorgeous intonation,tone and musicality. Bravo. Jesus, that was excellent.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you so much for your compliment!

[@Ocelot2000]

Has the haunting feel of Vaughan Williams in it's quieter moments. Beautiful piece.

[@phild834]

Mr. Watanabe is one with his instrument. How wonderful to have found the best instrument to vocalise your deepest feelings.

[@didierdrouet1546]

Vasks..., incontestablement un génie méconnu. Quel concerto !! Il magnifie le cor anglais. Bravo pour l'interprétation. L'apaisement la douceur nous transporte, puis l'inquiétude la surprise, la joie, l'angoisse. On passe vraiment par toutes les couleurs de l'arc en ciel. Merciii

[@tomkelley962]

Not only is it a total delight to the ears to hear you play, but it's a pleasure to watch the joy in your face and body language during your brilliant performance. Thank you!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank YOU for your very friendly responce! I did my best!!!

[@glum_hippo]

The English horn is a lovely instrument, and Mr Vasks clearly knows how to write for it.

[@sojarvoglarcrt4602]

This composition is gentle, primarly melodic and rewarding for soloist. BTW, this wonderful orchestra performed my Concerto for two saxophones in 2008. :)

[@cosmicsans3275]

Wowww the folk music section is amazing!! It’s very melodic and charming.

[@RustyInSeattle]

Absolutely enchanting. As an oboe and English Horn player, I''m just blown away.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you so much for your Compliment!!

[@stuartwright4670]

Wow. I'm an amateur oboe/cor player in London and always up for new pieces, especially for the cor. This piece is indeed Vaughan Williams in style but all also very reminiscent of the Swan of Tounela with the sweeping legato passages and fluidity which I love too. The performance is outstanding and not drowned out by the orchestra which is a testament to the soloist as well as the orchestral direction. Such a shame tracking down the score is almost impossible and nothing on social media that I can find.

[@oboist3]

You Sir, are a true master. Lovely sound with the right amount of vibrancy to carry - and your instrument really sings and it never feels overdone. I think you have really owned this piece. Thank you for posting.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

What a warm compliment! Thank you for your listening and message.

[@niktour352]

This sounds like it was in one of those 90's movies with a great soundtrack.

[@kwabzycomposer]

1:04 Elegy I 8:35 Folk Music 16:35 Elegy II 21:54 Postlude

[@nu2059]

こんなに美しく演奏できて羨ましいです。イングリッシュホルン、買ってしまおうかしら…

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

コメントをどうもありがとうございます。イングリッシュホルン、どうぞ買ってくださいませ！

[@expilectakunai]

Absolutely amazing! My favorite concerto for a woodwind ever. My biggest congratulations and thank you to Mr. Watanabe for making such a wonderful performance. Bravo!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

What a lovely compliment! Thank you sooo much!

[@stephanerigault5106]

@@takahirowatanabe3270 Congratulations! it’s absolutely fantastic. I would like to work on it but impossible to find music sheet??

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

@@stephanerigault5106 Thanks so lot for your compliment! Unfortunately this music sheet is only as rental available. Still there ist not music sheet with piano accompaniment..

[@towardthesea_]

Lovely playing and music! I had heard a commercial recording of the Vasks before which felt rather lifeless, but this is wonderful. I'm a composer and currently writing an English horn concerto myself for a friend.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thanks a lot. I also think the piece is one of the most beautiful music by Vasks. I wish you lots of fun and success in composing!

[@richardjchandler]

Pēteris Vasks's Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra, admirably played by Takahiro Watanabe on English Horn and the Frankfurt Orchestra is a real treasure!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you so much for your compliment!!

[@FMChannelpage]

Vasks + Watanabe = BOOM!! Thank you, astonishing!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you very much for your compliment!

[@jerryj1411]

What a wonderful piece of music, beautifully played. Vasks is my favourite contemporary composer Many thanks for making this available I do wonder if Peteris Vasks has heard and been influenced by the music of Vaughan Williams!

[@ivandasty277]

Very beautiful. To be a solist in one large orchestra and performing music in front of a large group of people , requires nervous as strong as steell and senses as gentle as spring breeze.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Exactly, I need it!

[@jimmorgan5612]

I'm glad he once heard The Swan Of Tuonela. Couldn't have done it without you, Jean. But perhaps this is a set of variations on The Swan.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you for the compliment. Year, I want to play Swan again!

[@user-uz4di8dd2b]

Какой же замечательный композитор!

[@laleberke-jenkins290]

Beautiful work and played wonderfully....

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you very much!!

[@banjalien]

Absolutely wonderful playing, I didn't want it to end.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you sooo much!

Wonderful performance, bravo!!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you very much!!

[@TheOBOE71]

Wonderful piece played by a wonderful and incredible musician !!🎶👌 I will share your brilliant recording with all my musician friends in my orchestra near Paris.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you sooo much!!

[@neetdaraptorboiii]

Wow.

[@shanequa555]

He certainly has tamed that unwieldy instrument, bending it to his aesthetic desires.

[@bertrandjacques6744]

For quite a while, I had been intrigued by Vasks' Concerto for English Horn but had not found the time to listen to it - which I did tonight. The work is very typical of Vasks and you can identify the composer after a few bars. But I am impressed by the quality of this rendition - both soloist and orchestra. Watanabe-San, thank you for the expression and the sentiment of your interpretation. Hat off to you ! Regards from France

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Oh, what a compliment! Thank you sooo much! I worked with the composer shortly before the concert. When I think of the melody, I can see the landscape of the Riga and the Baltic Sea before my eyes!

[@bertrandjacques6744]

My respect to you and to your commitment to rendering not only the composer's intention but also your sensory and emotional affinities with this concerto.....

[@christinewatters7859]

So plaintive!

[@kuang-licheng402]

rare piece

[@RixonThomas]

Fantastic performance! Beautiful playing.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you so much!!

[@carmenthierry]

Takahiro! We played Beethoven's trio in PMF... remember? Beautiful playing...!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Of course, I remember you! You played English Horn! How nice to meet you here.

[@marcosstuardo9870]

Dear Takahiro, I love your playing! Congratulations!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you soo much!!!

[@JMaxwell1000]

Wonderful performance! Gorgeous tone and phrasing. It's too bad there isn't more beautiful music written for the cor anglais because it's a uniquely beautiful instrument.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you for your compliment. I also wish that composers write more Pieces for the Instrument!

[@lilianalupotto8438]

Wonderful sound💜

[@eobo65]

wunderbar Takahiro, Gratulation! Dein grandioses Spiel wird dem fantastischen Stück sehr gerecht.... Ein Hörgenuss vom ersten bis zum letzten Takt.... Tolles Orchester, toller Dirigent!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Lieber Dirk-Michael, wie nett von Dir, vielen lieben Dank!! Vor dem Konzert habe ich direkt in Riga vom Komponist Vasks seinen Rat geholt. Besonders hat mir die Landschaft Lettlands viele Inspirationen für die Musik gegeben!

[@cherryeddy8922]

Great stuff! Good to hear the cor anglais, as not common. I love the oboe anyway so this is a treat.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you so much!!

[@nillortaylor7294]

WONDERFUL!!! Very nice... I want to be playing soon, I'm in love with this sound!!!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you very much!! Then I wish you a lot of fun and good luck, if you play this concerto!!! Also you play Buffet, isn't it ?!? :o))

[@TurbFlo]

Your fingerings are so clean and graceful and your sound so smooth and clear. As an oboist who has just picked up the english horn, the keys seem so far apart and hard to press at the same time without getting blips. I hope to one day achieve as beautiful a sound as you!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you very much for your compliment! I hope you enjoy with your play with cor anglais.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

The instrument is of course a Cor Anglais. Wonderfully played here in this outstanding work.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you!

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

And thank you for your reply. Here's a work you might be interested in, it's called The Flower Clock by Jean Francaix. (It is scored for oboe, but I expect you are as equally talented on that instrument too!!)

[@FilipSandecomposer]

A very nice concerto....very well performed. My compliments!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank your very much!!

[@FilipSandecomposer]

@@takahirowatanabe3270 I have composed a concerto for oboe and string orchestra. Would you like to try it out? This is a sample of it... kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJnPoqqgr5eBq9E

[@Chachboon1]

Never heard this before - just fabulous! Does anyone know what folk songs mvt 2 is based on?

[@bobofthekerbals9797]

That was beautiful

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you so much!

[@PatriciaEmersonMitchell]

BRAVO!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you!!!

[@TiticatFollies]

BRAVO!!!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you!!

[@smariekable]

wow....beautiful

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you so much!!

[@gustavochavez32]

I have to say your playing and tone quality is absolutely amazing!!!! I want to where to purchase or rent this piece. I am in love with it. Hope to hear from you thank you. Again your are just amazing !

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you soo much for your compliment!

[@crossleydd42]

In England, ironically, it's not the English Horn, but the Cor Anglais!

[@jamesoboe7826]

Just beautiful, Takahiro! You have a haunting, singing tone, which draws your listeners in. Bravo! The Vasks is a great addition to the repertoire. I read in the comments, below, that you play a buffet cor anglais. I'm considering visiting the buffet factory in the near future. I'd be interested to know which make of crook/bocal works best for you with your buffet cor anglais? Best wishes. James

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Dear James, Thank you for your compliment! Yes, I play buffet cor anglais and with original bocal from buffet. I think, it will be fit well with wide staples..

[@jamesoboe7826]

Thanks for the reply and advice. I play a fairly old loree cor at the moment. I think it's high time I moved on to a new instrument. I actually play a buffet greenline oboe, so perhaps it's time to double up and play a buffet cor anglais, too. Best wishes and kindest regards. James

[@shin-i-chikozima]

No English Horn is as interesting and intriguing and captivating as his playing English Horn

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you very much!!

[@shin-i-chikozima]

@@takahirowatanabe3270 You are welcome I hope you are well

[@saracabete6049]

Gosto muito!

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Muito obrigado!

[@nu2059]

イングリッシュホルン素敵ですね～買おうか検討しちゃいます(*^^*)どの楽器を買おうか迷います♪こんな素敵な音色を出せるようになりたいたいです😁

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

ありがとうございます♪♪ぜひ色々悩んでくださいませ！😊

[@nicoleshaw7542]

I would love to play this piece for a senior recital or have the music. Where can I get it? Your playing is incredibly moving. The English Horn continues to fascinate me with the amount of colors one can bring out. I have watched this video many times! I hope I can achieve this level of performance as a fellow English horn player :)

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thanks for the incredible compliment! The sheet music are rental material and there is unfortunately no edition yet with piano reduction to buy. I wish you good luck!

[@bastiatintheandes4958]

Impressive! Sublime composition, outstanding soloist.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you very much!!

[@bastiatintheandes4958]

What an honour to get your kind words Maestro.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Likewise. Also for me it was a big honor !

[@christinewatters7859]

Is reminiscent fo Dvorak and Sibelius and also a bit Tchaikovski-ish for me. Will that be the folk tune influence coming through?

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

I guess so. The composer came from Latvia, where all of the three countries surely could have been influenced.

[@miguelvaliente1475]

I was wondering if the cough guy was missing

[@retrogamerdave362]

SUGOI

[@paulvine8127]

Your tone and projection are great! I'm playing English Horn in a school concert band and I'm struggling to project my sound; do you have any tips?

[@SmirnovSashka]

very nice! Buffet?

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Thank you! Yes, Buffet!! :o))

[@davesmith6815]

I'm going to a buffet tomorrow night. I'm going to make sure I have ribs and pie.

[@takahirowatanabe3270]

Then enjoy your meal.

[@rubensana126]

at first i thought it was the playstation 4 theme xd

[@frzkd5053]

didnt know hikaru can play trompete

[@raymondtogtman1047]

1:04 Elegy I 8:35 Folk Music 16:35 Elegy II 21:54 Postlude