I have to say this is the most beautiful rendition of this remarkable concerto I have ever heard. The tempo, phrasing, dynamic range are simply impeccable! Izotov's version of the Strauss will go down as an all-time classic in the history of the oboe.

In my opinion, Mr. Izotov is the modern day epitome of refinement, grace, and expressiveness in America today!

Ravishing tone and singing musicality. Truly the best all around recording of the piece. It pulls you in and engages your mind and heart.

very well accompanied by the CSO and Edo de Waart who was an oboeplayer himself.

wonderful this has put an earworm in my head can't get it out been hearing it for several days now

Just MARVELOUS! Warmth and singing style of the tone is what musical line require .

1. Allegro moderato (00:09) // 2. Andante (09:35) // 3. Vivace - Allegro (18:49) After World War II, American oboist John de Lancie was a corporal in the U.S. Army near the Bavarian town of Garmisch where Strauss was living in April 1945. As the Pittsburgh Orchestra's principal oboist in civilian life, de Lancie knew Strauss's orchestral writing for oboe well. On a visit to Strauss's home, he asked him if he would consider writing an oboe concerto. The answer was "No" and the topic was dropped. But in the months that followed, the idea grew on him and he completed the Concerto on September 14, 1945, and the orchestration on October 25.

That first page and a half sound so relaxed and easy in this performance. I’ve performed this and it wasn’t quite how I felt…..

This is such a fantastic recording! I love the Strauss Concerto and I wish I could play it half as beautifully as Mr. Izotov :)

Che Meraviglia e che infinita dolcezza ...

This has to be the best live performance I've ever heard!

I'm happy to hear all the beautiful pieces that have been composed for the oboe. I had no idea, until now. It's become one of my favorite instruments. This performance is exceptional!

Bravo Eugene!

A perfect performance

Bravo!

I will go out on a limb and say that this is probably the best concerto for the oboe ever composed, Mozart not withstanding. A conversation I once had with an oboist brought something to mind, comparing the concerto for oboe by Vaughan Williams written at almost the same time. I came to this conclusion - the Vaughan Williams is much better written for the instrument, but the Strauss is much the better piece from a purely musical standpoint. And Vaughan Williams happens to be one of my favorite composers, but in this case, I have to give the palm clearly to the Strauss work. Others are free to disagree with me, but I have noted that the Strauss gets performed far more often in concert, and there must be a clear reason for it. It sounds to my ears as a far more fulfilled work, especially after the composer's revision of the ending which was decidedly beneficial.

A great performance, I must say. I've always admired Mr. Izotov's tone; it has aspects of a European player mixed with an American, very pure. If you want to hear another great performance of this concerto by another Great Lakes orchestra, click here to hear Katherine Young Steele, principal oboe of the Milwaukee Symphony, perform it with that orchestra, also under Edo de Waart. The cadenza at the end of the second movement is very well performed, and very emotive. www.wmse.org/archives/download/2015/12/12-06-2015-15-00.mp3?dl ( Skip to 35:40. Apologies if the link does not work.