Nicola’s 2nd album ‘Phoenix’, a disc of oboe and piano music by English composers, is available now. This disc aims to bring something new to the world of recorded oboe music, by highlighting too-often neglected pieces and introducing brand new works to the listener. Named after the ‘Phoenix Sonata’ by Paul Patterson, the album includes three world première recordings, and four works by living composers.
“Thank you for your enticing performance of ‘Music for a Lovelorn Lenanshee’! Wonderful playing. The atmosphere and character and tempo are all terrific, earthy and rapturous by turns, and always engaging. I always want music both to sing and to dance, and you do both beautifully!”
“This is easy to listen to but not to play this well...The disc is beautifully recorded and performed by the duo”
“The playing by Nicola Hands (oboe/cor anglais) and Jonathan Pease (piano) is splendid in every case. The recording is ideal. The liner notes by various hands, provide all the information required for understanding and enjoyment of every work. Details of the composers and soloists are also included. This is an imaginative and varied recital presenting at least one old favourite (Alwyn) and introduces several World Premieres.”
Also available for purchase is Nicola’s debut album, ‘Light and Shade’. The disc features a collection of works for oboe and cor anglais with piano, played by Jonathan Pease. Some of the tracks are by well-known artists and are established within the oboe canon, whilst others are more rare. Composers include Bozza, Dranishnikova, Goepfart, Grovlez, Kennaway, Paladilhe, Rubbra, Saint-Saëns and Schumann.
The production of the CD was supported by the Gemma Trust: Registered Charity No. 1121090 http://gemmatrust.com/
“It’s hard to imagine a more sensitive and sincere performance of Poem than it receives here.”
“There are a lovely selection of pieces, and the playing sounds excellent to me. I haven’t listened to solo oboe/cor anglais music before, and have been pleasantly surprised by how much variety Nicola puts into her playing. I can’t compare her technique to that of other players, but it sounds very professional to me! Her tone is gorgeous, and she can leap about when the music demands it. The pianist is no slouch either, and the interplay between them suggests that they are sympathetic to each other’s approach. It is one of the CDs that I am playing regularly in the evenings at present.”
“Nicola Hands’ performances across Light and Shade
are a wonderful demonstration of the diversity of the oboe
and cor anglais repertoire.
The combination of well-loved light-hearted pieces and more
unusual and serious works should make this CD attractive not
only to oboists but to a wider audience.”