Michael Fine: Concerto for Oboe Section - World Premiere

The world premiere of Michael Fine's Concerto for Oboe Section, performed by Leanna Renfro, Lorraine Duso Kitts, and Beth Wheeler, Philip Mann conducting the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra which commissioned the work. The performance took place at the Robinson Center in Little Rock on May 4, 2019. The idea for this rather unusual Triple Concerto came from Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director Philip Mann, who had just conducted the world premiere of Michael Fine’s Double Concerto for Two Violins. Fine was immediately enthusiastic and began to sketch the piece mentally without waiting for the official commission. The Concerto Grosso, which showcases the interplay between a small group of soloists and the orchestra, has great appeal for him. It differs from the traditional solo concerto where a soloist is alone in the spotlight and somewhat removed from the orchestra. The Concerto Grosso, in contrast, allows for a closer connection between the concertino – in this case three oboists with the third occasionally switching to English Horn – and a chamber sized body of strings. The Concertino soloists can sing as a group or act individually, but are always part of what is going on right behind them. This three movement Concerto begins with a nostalgic theme modally hinting at the choral music of the Renaissance. The soloists have plenty of opportunities for displays of virtuosity and musical expression. The orchestral responds, occasionally leads, while setting and anchoring the harmonic development. Most important: it is always intertwined with the solo writing. The Larghetto has a gently meandering outdoor character reminiscent of the English pastoral composers while the last movement is a rustic dance with some challenging pizzicato playing for the orchestra. "Michael Fine's Concerto for Oboe Section and String Orchestra - a work suggested to the composer by Mann and receiving its first public performance with the ASO - displayed the virtuosity of the orchestra's three accomplished oboists, Leanna Renfro, Lorraine Duso Kitts and Beth Wheeler (who also did double-duty at times on the English horn). The three-movement concerto grosso also highlighted the lush sinuosity of the ASO string section, which continually engaged in collaborative interplay with the oboists. Fine's bright, accessible composition led the superbly balanced players from a yearningly nostalgic beginning through a lilting larghetto to delightful pizzicato-punctuated dance rhythms." Arkansas Democrat-Gazette The score and parts are available exclusively from Donemus: https://webshop.donemus.nl/action/front/sheetmusic/16516 Photographs of concerts by Kelly Hicks, Kelly Hicks Photography: https://kellyhicksphotography.com/?fbclid=IwAR0ghfTZxMLiHp_r7EmAF-iYW0dhRNSL8zqUyOZEEzXsCKsFQnzlfLm8ssc