Bassoon Concertos Karen Geoghegan

• 1 I. Allegro moderato 10:46
• 2 II. Romanza: Andantino e cantabile 06:22
• 3 III. Rondo: Vivace 06:31
• 4 Andante - 03:53
• 5 Rondo: Adagio 05:14
• 6 (Allegro) 05:22
• 7 Andante 03:41
• 8 Tempo primo 02:06
• 9 Introduction: Adagio - 01:32
• 10 Polonaise 07:28
• 11 Romance, Op. 62 05:13
• 12 Porgy and Bess, Act I: Summertime (arr. for bassoon and orchestra) 04:36
• Total Runtime 01:02:44

Info for Bassoon Concertos

Currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music with John Orford, nineteen-year-old Karen Geoghegan came to the attention of the British public late last year following her appearance as a finalist on Classical Star, a BBC reality programme. She proved immensely popular with the public and judges alike, and brought much needed attention to the bassoon, which has generally been neglected as a solo instrument. The cellist Matthew Barley who was mentor and presenter of the show says of Karen, ‘with her sound and focus she is already one of the great wind players in the country’. Chandos’ Managing Director, Ralph Couzens, was so impressed by Karen’s performance that he contacted Karen the day following the broadcast, and offered her a contract.

For her first album with Chandos, it was decided to focus on the repertoire performed for the show. Hummel’s Bassoon Concerto, the centrepiece of the album, is complemented by Elgar’s Romance, Berwald’s rarely recorded Konzertstück, Weber’s Andante and Hungarian Rondo, Carl Jacobi’s Introduction and Polonaise and a beautiful arrangement of Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’. Each work demonstrates Karen’s ability as a performer of outstanding quality. Benjamin Wallfisch conducts the Orchestra of Opera North.

“Bassoons rarely equal best-sellers: that could be about to change… Chandos have a real find on their hands with Karen Geoghegan.” (GRAMOPHONE)

Berwald: Konzertstück for Bassoon and Orchestra
Elgar: Romance, Op. 62
Gershwin: Summertime (from Porgy and Bess)
Hummel, J: Grand Concerto in F major for bassoon and orchestra
Jacobi, Carl: Introduction and Polonaise
Weber: Andante & Rondo Ungarese, Op. 35
Performer:
Karen Geoghegan, bassoon
Orchestra of Opera North, Benjamin Wallfisch


Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Bassoon Concerto in F major, WoO 23, S63
I. Allegro moderato
II. Romanza: Andantino e cantabile
III. Rondo: Vivace
Carl Maria von Weber: Andante e Rondo ungarese, Op. 35, J. 158
Andante -
Rondo: Adagio
Franz Berwald: Konzertstuck for Bassoon and Orchestra
(Allegro) -
Andante -
Tempo primo
Carl Jacobi: Introduction and Polonaise, Op. 9
Introduction: Adagio -
Polonaise
Edward Elgar: Romance, Op. 62
Romance, Op. 62
George Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, Act I: Summertime (arr. for bassoon and orchestra) Porgy and Bess, Act I: Summertime (arr. for bassoon and orchestra)

Karen Geoghegan is an Scottish bassoonist. She appeared on the 2007 BBC Two reality show, Classical Star. She was spotted on the show by the managing director of Chandos Records, Ralph Couzens and she has gone on to record three albums with the independent label.

Geoghegan began studying the bassoon at the age of twelve with Russell Cowieson, having previously played the violin since the age of five. She later studied at the Junior Academy of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with Janet Bloxwich. She won the Gilbert Innes Prize for woodwind and the 2004 Concerto competition, and in 2004 and 2005 was awarded the Wolfson Scholarship. In 2006 she gave a recital on BBC Radio Scotland, and also performed the Hindemith Trumpet and Bassoon Concerto with John Wallace. She was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland for four years and in 2007 performed with Camerata Scotland NYOS Futures. As of 2009, Geoghegan is in her final year at the Royal Academy of Music with John Orford. During her first year she performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with the Academy String Orchestra, and received the Violet M. Wallace Award. She was runner-up in the BBC Two programme Classical Star for her performance of the Hummel Bassoon Concerto with the City of London Sinfonia at LSO St Luke's. On 5 August 2009 she performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic at the BBC Proms.

Booklet for Bassoon Concertos