Towards the end of the nineteenth century, resistance stirred in French musical culture against the dominant influence of Richard Wagner, which also extended beyond the Rhine. Models of a consciously alternative conception established themselves, especially in the field of chamber music. The oboe as a solo instrument thus moved more prominently into French composers' field of vision. With its pastoral character, it was exquisitely suited as a foil to the massive Wagnerian aesthetic, nonetheless offering expressive power and rich tone colours. The present new recording clearly demonstrates this new colourfulness and virtuosity in oboe chamber music. The composers represented extend from the still very romantic César Franck until far into the twentieth century, including members of the famous "Groupe des Six" surrounding the poet Jean Cocteau. The latter propagated a "new simplicity" that, to be sure, had nothing to do with simple plainness. Germaine Tailleferre, Louis Durey and Georges Auric represent this typically French modern aesthetic with brilliant, light and yet profound compositions.
Lajos Lencsés has been an internationally well-known soloist ever since winning an award at the Geneva Music Competition in 1968, as is his piano partner François Killian, who won the 1981 ARD Competition in Munich. With tremendous security, they allow an enchanting world of elegance and refinement to unfold, completed by Lajos's son, Leo Lencsés, playing the tambourine in a work by Henri Tomasi.
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Lajos Lencsés has been an internationally well-known soloist ever since winning an award at the Geneva Music Competition in 1968, as is his piano partner François Killian, who won the 1981 ARD Competition in Munich. With tremendous security, they allow an enchanting world of elegance and refinement to unfold, completed by Lajos's son, Leo Lencsés, playing the tambourine in a work by Henri Tomasi.