Karen Geeoghean Plays Fantasies for Bassoon Karen Geoghegan & Philip Edward Fisher

• Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): Sonata in A Minor, D. 821, "Arpeggione":
• 1 Schubert: Sonata in A Minor, D. 821, "Arpeggione": I. Allegro moderato 12:03
• 2 Schubert: Sonata in A Minor, D. 821, "Arpeggione": II. Adagio 03:46
• 3 Schubert: Sonata in A Minor, D. 821, "Arpeggione": III. Allegretto 08:49
• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943): 14 Songs, Op. 34: XIV. Vocalise (Arr. for Bassoon and Piano):
• 4 Rachmaninoff: 14 Songs, Op. 34: XIV. Vocalise (Arr. for Bassoon and Piano) 06:36
• Gustav Schreck (1849 - 1918): Bassoon Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 9:
• 5 Schreck: Bassoon Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 9: I. Allegro ma non troppo 05:51
• 6 Schreck: Bassoon Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 9: II. Largo 04:38
• 7 Schreck: Bassoon Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 9: III. Allegro - Più mosso 05:28
• Louis Spohr (1784 - 1859): Sonata concertante, Op. 115:
• 8 Spohr: Sonata concertante, Op. 115: II. Adagio (Arr. for Bassoon and Piano) 05:59
• Sir Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934): Salut d'amour, Op. 12:
• 9 Elgar: Salut d'amour, Op. 12 03:01
• Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856): Phantasiestücke, Op. 73:
• 10 Schumann: Phantasiestücke, Op. 73: I. Zart und mir Ausdruck 02:48
• 11 Schumann: Phantasiestücke, Op. 73: II. Lebhaft, leicht 03:29
• 12 Schumann: Phantasiestücke, Op. 73: III. Rasch und mir Feuer 04:12
• Total Runtime 01:06:40

Info for Karen Geeoghean Plays Fantasies for Bassoon

Chandos signed Karen Geoghegan as an exclusive artist in 2007 following her appearance on BBC TV’s Classical Star programme. This is her fifth recording with the label, and the expressive maturity and sensitivity of her playing have quickly cemented her status as a rising star, Gramophone writing: ‘Name five internationally famous bassoon soloists. Archie Camden, Gwydion Brooke and, er, that’s it. Except I think we shall soon be adding the name of Karen Geoghegan to the roll call.’

On this album, she is accompanied by Philip Edward Fisher in works by some of the greatest composers of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries: Schubert, Schumann, Spohr, Rachmaninoff, and Elgar. Yet, with a single exception, namely the Sonata in E flat by Gustav Schreck, none of the works recorded here were originally composed for the bassoon.

One of Rachmaninoff’s best-loved short pieces, the Vocalise was written for wordless voice and piano. Demonstrating the capacities of the voice as a pure instrument, this work is a prime example of the power of melody without the need for words. In this arrangement, the bassoon takes on the role of ‘wordless voice’, which shows off the instrument’s great lyrical qualities to perfection, as does Elgar’s Salut d’amour.

Schumann’s Fantasiestücke was originally composed for clarinet and piano, its three pieces played without a break, with each subsequent piece taking up and developing melodic ideas from the preceding one. The Sonata in A minor, D 821 by Schubert, which remained unpublished and unperformed for decades after his death, is an emotionally complex work, its moods moving from deep melancholy to excited ebullience.

“... There’s a wonderfully natural, unpretentious quality to Geoghegan’s phrasing and expression – especially in the Schumann and she is partnered adeptly at all times by Philip Edward Fisher" (Jessica Duchen, Classic FM)

Karen Geoghegan, bassoon
Philip Edward Fisher, piano

Karen Geoghegan is an Scottish bassoonist. She appeared on the 2007 BBC Two reality show, Classical Star. She was spotted on the show by the managing director of Chandos Records, Ralph Couzens and she has gone on to record three albums with the independent label.

Geoghegan began studying the bassoon at the age of twelve with Russell Cowieson, having previously played the violin since the age of five. She later studied at the Junior Academy of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with Janet Bloxwich. She won the Gilbert Innes Prize for woodwind and the 2004 Concerto competition, and in 2004 and 2005 was awarded the Wolfson Scholarship. In 2006 she gave a recital on BBC Radio Scotland, and also performed the Hindemith Trumpet and Bassoon Concerto with John Wallace. She was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland for four years and in 2007 performed with Camerata Scotland NYOS Futures. As of 2009, Geoghegan is in her final year at the Royal Academy of Music with John Orford. During her first year she performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with the Academy String Orchestra, and received the Violet M. Wallace Award. She was runner-up in the BBC Two programme Classical Star for her performance of the Hummel Bassoon Concerto with the City of London Sinfonia at LSO St Luke's. On 5 August 2009 she performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic at the BBC Proms.

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