When Oboe Meets Piano: Arnaldo De Felice and Alberto Firrincieli

The Concert “When Oboe Meets Piano”

Entwining Wind and String Instruments

Once W.A Mozart said, “I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame, I simply follow my own feelings”. In this sense, music relied on feelings and evoked them. It was true with the concert “When Oboe Meets Piano” which was staged at Chartium Hotel on 31st, January of 2020 from 7 pm onward.

Many people were present at the marvelous musical concert of the two maestros. It was orchestrated by the cultural programme of the Embassy of Italy for 2020 which would be starting in full swing with the first concert of this year. 

 The embassy invited an exciting joint “travel” by oboist Arnaldo de Felice, who gave his first solo recital when he was 15 and performed in several prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, and pianist Alberto Firrincieli, who is back again in Yangon to entertain Yangon’s audience. Both artists are also music composers; Maestro de Felice played his own “Medusa”.

When the event opened, the ambassador of Italian Embassy, Mrs. Alessandra Schiavo spoke of the event and upcoming event at Italian Embassy on Feb 23^rd. She invited everyone to take part in that Italian gourmet event too.

After that, the two great maestros started to play their respective songs wonderfully. They played Concerto BWV 974 which was arranged for piano and oboe, Oblivium of A. Piazzolla (1921-1992), Medusa for Oboe solo, Sonata C 88 in C major of D.Cimarosa (1749-1801) for piano solo, Sonata in F minor of D. Scarlatti (1685-1732) for piano solo, “Capriccio” Op. 80 of A. Ponchielli (1834-1886) for oboe and piano and “Mission” of E.Morricone (1928) for oboe and piano.

The tunes and melodies produced by the two instruments were so pleasant, depicting the high and low notes and tunes so that the tunes were fluctuated with emotions and sensations. While listening to the music, one’s mind was drifted away with those charming tunes until the music reached its finale and clapping from the audience exuded wholeheartedly.

The pleasant tunes of oboe were very much tantalizing to the ears of the music lovers because of the skillful touches of Maestro de Felice. When he sustained the notes and slurred, they expressed very well in terms of musical sublimity. Maestros, pianist and oboist played the tunes so smoothly and precisely and with much dexterity and skills they needed for musical performers.

 It was really much uplifting and satisfying to enjoy the whole evening with them at the venue. They showed their musical expertise so well that people were really much engrossed in their entertainment. The oboe, with its rich harmonics in the upper range, has a timbre which was well controlled by Maestro de Felice.

In fact, the oboe is chiefly a melody instrument, being pastoral by nature and it has full of tenderness. Sometimes, its notes can cause a certain degree of shrill and so one needs a proper manipulation not to compel it a passionate cry or a powerful outburst of pitch. Then,  its small, bitter-sweet voice becomes tame and will exhibit something sublime.

Some people noted that both instruments brought relief to the heart and soul of them and the oboe is one of the oldest, and one of the most deeply sympathetic, perhaps because the lips of the player touch the reeds directly. It was true that the oboe's repertoire as a solo instrument was much to treasure, much to adore and much to console. 

Classical music magically worked very quickly when things were right for them. Even if you align your breathing to the music's beat, your mind will be free to observe its flow and it was the best cure for serious stress and granted prolonged relaxation and rest.  

 The two Italian musicians entertained the audience with beautiful pieces ranging from Scarlatti and Cimarosa (XVII and XVIII centuries) to Piazzolla’s tango (with the great “hit” “Oblivium”) and the contemporary film scores by the most acclaimed composer Ennio Morricone, whose unforgettable music has been reused countless times for TV and in movies.

The entrance was free. On the 1^st of February the two Italian musicians would also give a Masterclass to music students at Gitameit as part of the initiatives undertaken by the Italian Embassy to continue supporting the development of capacities of Myanmar youth also in the music field.●

San Lin Tun is a freelance writer of essays, poetry, short story and novel in Myanmar and English.