Star oboist Mayer to multitask as conductor

Albrecht Mayer, principal oboist with the Berlin Philharmonic, will make his conducting debut for local fans during a Korean Symphony Orchestra subscription concert on July 18 at Seoul Arts Center. / Courtesy of Decca

By Do Je-he

It’s hard to imagine anyone playing the oboe with more beauty than Albrecht Mayer. For the past 21 years, he has occupied the position of principal oboist of the prestigious Berlin Philharmonic while building an illustrious solo and chamber music career.

The 48-year-old musician will be performing in Seoul on July 18 at Seoul Arts Center. An unexpected surprise of the occasion is that Mayer will be conducting, besides playing the oboe.

The German oboist only started conducting a few years ago, mostly in the concerto performances where he was also the soloist.

In the upcoming concert, local fans will have a rare opportunity to see him conducting an entire symphony. Besides soloing in oboe concertos by Bach and Handel, the virtuoso oboist will lead the Korean Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 3 in a minor,” often known as the “Scottish Symphony.”

Mayer has reached the pinnacle of his profession with a lyrical sound reminiscent of a young soprano’s voice. A former singer with the Bamberg Cathedral Choir in his youth, he combines his interest in the human voice with his instrument.

In his master classes and interviews, he has constantly stressed the close relationship between singing and oboe playing.

“When you play the oboe, you lend it your human voice — your singing apparatus, your speaking voice and all of the resonating spaces that are in your body,” Mayer said in a German TV interview. “In the best case scenario, the oboe is just a tool that works well.”

His favorite composer is J.S. Bach. “In his cantatas, the oboe was Bach’s favorite instrument. For him, it was the instrumental equivalent of the human voice,” Mayer said.

To expand the oboe repertory, which is considerably limited compared to string instruments or piano, Mayer has transcribed or arranged a wide range of pieces for his instrument. The Bach and Handel concertos for oboe that appear on the program of the Seoul concert are Mayer’s own arrangements.

It is extremely rare for an orchestra player to simultaneously enjoy the level of individual success that Mayer has had. He has appeared as a soloist with top conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Mayer is also an active chamber musician, often partnering with renowned musicians like pianists Helene Grimaud or Leif Ove Andsnes.

He began his professional career in 1990 as principal oboist of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra before moving to the Berlin Philharmonic in 1992, when then-music director Abbado appointed him principal oboist in his orchestra. With principal flautist Emmanuel Pahud, Mayer has been a key asset to the top German orchestra’s woodwind section, known for its intoxicating sonic beauty and flawless technique.

He is one of the few woodwind players in the world to record for major recording labels. He has a distinguished discography with Decca and Deutsche Grammophon. Some of Mayer’s most important recordings are “In Search of Mozart,” containing oboe concertos by the Austrian composer with Abbado; and “Lieder ohne Worte,” Bach transcriptions for oboe and orchestra.

Tickets for Mayer’s concert range from 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit www.sacticket.co.kr or call 02-580-1300.

Program

*Albrecht Mayer, oboist and conductor

J. S. Bach

Concerto for oboe, strings and basso continuo (after BWV 105, 170, 49)/Arranged byAlbrecht Mayer

G. F. Handel

“Verdi prati” Concerto for oboe d’amore, strings and basso continuo (after HWV 32, 296a, 34)/ Arranged by Albrecht Mayer

F. Mendelssohn

Symphony No. 3 in a minor, Op. 56 “Scottish”