Month: April 2023

I first heard Michael Martin Kofler back in 1994 or so at a flute convention in Frankfurt am Main. He had already held his job as Principal Flute with the Munich Philharmonic for some years and his performance (of Rodrigo’s Flute Concerto, no less) was amazing. Just brutally, relentlessly powerful but also gorgeous playing.

And so he is in Jeux à Deux: Recital for Flute and Harp. Lots of seamless, effortless beauty. An impeccable golden tone somewhat in the manner of James Galway. A luminous tone in Ibert’s Pièce in particular but also lots of delicate playing in his Bach interpretations.

I often forget the level of refinement but also intensity players like Kofler can show. The quality and intensity of his playing is something I need to remind myself of in my day-to-day playing and teaching.

This is a recording by the great Swiss flutist, Emmanuel Pahud and our own Australian Chamber Orchestra, led by Richard Tognetti, of the Six Concertos Op. 10 by Antonio Vivaldi. The concertos themselves are pillars of the flute repertoire, even though they were originally composed for recorder.

What can I say about this? It’s hands-down the best, most charismatic and consistently musically-compelling recording of these concertos around. Even Period musicians don’t play with this balance of good musicality and flat-out imagination.

I never tire of listening to this recording. I think there was real chemistry between Pahud and Tognetti – both very imaginative musicians. Intensely evocative playing of already naturalistic music. And they’re playing modern instruments with GREAT period-correct style.

Pahud’s playing on a technical level is otherworldly of course, but he is never just showboating. I honestly listen to his playing all the time and it makes me stop and think, and listen again. Totally informs my playing on a musical AND technical level that I don’t find with any other player. Not that there aren’t many other great players around, but Pahud is the complete package in ways I continually find illuminating.