Best Oboe Concertos of All Time

The oboe is a beautiful solo instrument that features in many symphonies as well as concertos. We’ve collected the ten best oboe concertos into the following list so that you can enjoy the lovely melodies of this instrument.

1. Albinoni: Oboe Concerto in C Major, Op. 9, No. 5

This beautiful oboe concerto is written by Italian composer Albinoni. He completed it in 1722. This superb composition most certainly will bring joy to your mind. Your heart will leap up with joy with the wonderful mirroring of sound. Don’t be surprised if your heart starts frolicking with the beautiful music.

This is what they say it, Bellissimo! A typical performance has 9 minutes in length. This nice piece of work has three movements. They are:

  1. Allegro
  2. Adagio: non- troppo
  3. Allegro

Instruments: The composition is scored for 2 Oboes, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello, and Continuo.

 

2. Handel: Oboe Concerto No. 3 in G Minor, HWV 287

This charming composition was written by Fredrick Handel somewhere in between 1703 to 1705.  This four-movement slow-fast-slow-fast music is good enough to melt your heart. You will for sure lose yourself in the warm and gentle music.

Typically a performance lasts for almost 10 minutes. Handel chose to write this piece in four movement rather than “modern” three movements. Though, being a German musician it was tough for him to adopt Italian developments at that time. The 4 movements are:

  1. Grave
  2. Allegro
  3. Largo
  4. Allegro

Instruments: Solo Oboe, Piano, Violin, and Orchestra.

 

3. Righini: Idomeneus Concerto

This oboe concerto in c major was written by Righini. He wrote it in 1806. This concerto took the name ‘Idomeneus’ from a staging of Mozart’s opera called ‘Idomeneo’ in Berlin. This beautiful and joyful concerto will make you happy. The gentle music and rhythm will create a nirvana around you.

Generally, a typical performance takes around four minutes to complete. This classical period oboe concerto is totally worthy of your time.

 

4. Corelli: Oboe and Strings Concerto

This beautiful oboe concerto is written by Corelli. He wrote it for Oboe and Strings. This 2 movement composition surely has something to offer you. It starts with a mourn music and with the change of the movement it turns into a gentle lyrical one.

The combination of two movements lasts for about 4 minutes. The 2 movements are:

  1. Preludio
  2. Giga

Instruments: Solo Oboe and Strings.

5. Albinoni: Oboe Concerto in D Minor, Op. 9, No. 2

Albinoni was first Italian composer to write oboe concertos. This D Minor oboe concerto is considered to be his best oboe concerto. This is an energetic composition with the dotted rhythm. The melody has its own appeal and it will win your heart, no wonder! Combination of all the instruments with the change of movements will bring joy and create drama in your mind.

This beautiful work lasts for about 9 minutes in a typical performance. It has 4 movements. They are:

  1. Grave
  2. Allegro I
  3. Adagio
  4. Allegro II

Instruments: Oboe, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello, and Continuo.

 

6. Cimarosa: Oboe Concerto in C Minor

This beautiful oboe concerto is a hunch of four keyboard sonatas by Cimarosa. All the four sonatas are a complete one and can be played individually. Arthur Benjamin, in 1949 took these four sonatas and combined them into a concerto form. He rewrote the pieces to score them for oboe and orchestra string.

Lively rhythm in this composition will make you feel good for sure. This comic type music will bring laughter to your mouth and make your mind joyful. This re-worked classical period composition is about 10 minutes long for a typical performance. It has four movements.

  1. Introduzione
  2. Allegro
  3. Siciliana
  4. Allegro giusto

Instruments: Solo Oboe and Orchestra string.

7. Bellini: Oboe Concerto in E-Flat Major

This fine E-flat major oboe concerto was composed by Bellini in the romantic music period. This is the only surviving concerto of this composer. The movements he used in this piece of work were relatively new at that time. But he crafted them well. It has a dramatic introduction but there is no melodic development in the rest of the piece.

Usually, a performance takes about 7 to 8 minutes. It has three movements.

  1. Risoluto allegro
  2. Larghetto cantabile
  3. Allegro polonese

Instruments: two Oboes, two Bassoons, two Clarinets, two Flutes, two French Horns, and Strings.

 

8. Mozart: Oboe Concerto in C major

This classical period oboe concerto is written by Mozart. He wrote it in the summer of 1777. This is one of the most studied and important oboe concertos in oboe repertoire. The master turned this oboe concerto in a flute concerto. The rhythmic work will take your breath away. It will totally worth of your time.

This beautiful piece of art has three movements. They are:

  1. Allegro aperto
  2. Adagio ma non-troppo
  3. Rondo: Allegretto

Instruments: This composition is scored for 2 Oboes, 2 Horns, 2 Violins, Violas, and Cello.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2UC3Fo765w

 

9. Albinoni: Oboe Concerto in C Major, Op. 7, No. 12

This is another beautiful piece of oboe concerto by Albinoni. This is one of the most attractive pieces of oboe concertos. The combination of instruments will give you aural glare for sure. You must like this composition. You will get immense pleasure, I can only guaranty.

A typical performance has an average duration of 8 minutes. It has three movements as well. They are:

  1. Allegro
  2. Adagio
  3. Allegro

Instruments: Oboe, Strings, and Continuo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffj7phafhWY

 

10. Marcello: Oboe Concerto in D minor

This oboe concerto is composed by Marcello in the early 18th century. This three-movement concerto is gracefully lyrical. The beautiful composition is extremely energetic at the same time. It will soothe your mind and create power in you.

This last but not the least composition has three movements. They are:

  1. Andante e spiccato
  2. Adagio
  3. Presto

Instruments: Solo Oboe, Strings, and Continuo.

 

 

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Bobby is a viola player who currently lives in Seattle. He has been playing viola for over 20 years in various orchestras.

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