Description
Sophisticated
The Swiss-Franco-American virtuoso, Celeste-Marie Roy, elevates the sonorous splendour of the bassoon to vibrant new heights with her flexible tone, technical finesse and striking interpretation of melodious and highly virtuosic works from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Brilliant
All works are composed especially for the bassoon and all demonstrate a deep knowledge of this idiosyncratic instrument. Thunemann's Variazioni ranges widely from dark melancholy to exuberant virtuosity with staccato passages, lively trills, jovial jumps and octave slurs. Roy contrasts this with Allard's and Farago's versions of the famous Theme by Paganini.
Passionate
Fantasy for Bassoon by Sir Malcolm Arnold explores the bassoon's lyrical potential, varied articulations, and the composer's love of melody. Similarly melodious are Lussier's Fantasia Tango, Koechlin's Monodies and Gordon Jacob's Partita - the latter an especially generous portrayal of the instrument's sumptuous tone.
Outstanding
Roy's solo programme in high-resolution 3D reproduction is a dynamic listening experience, dispelling many preconceived ideas about the bassoon, impressing listeners and critics alike: "Celeste-Marie Roy is a master of articulation, tone production and breath control. She clearly demonstrates that the unwieldy bassoon is indeed well suited as a solo instrument. These recordings are sure to be a welcome addition to the collections of all lovers of this distinctive sound." (Klassik Festival)
