Crystal Records — Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida, Oboe
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CD729: Mist Over the Lake. Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida, Oboe. Arthur Bliss: Conversations; Pierre-Max Dubois: Ballade
Medievale; Amilcare Ponchielli: Capriccio; Leone Sinigaglia: Twelve Variations
on a Theme by Franz Schubert; Napoléon Coste: Three Pieces; Joao Guilherme
Ripper, Kinderszenen; Patrick Stoyanovich: Seven Short Pieces; Jan Freidlin:
Mist Over the Lake. UPC
009414772923 BUY NOW
With Rhian Kenny, flute; Andrés Cárdenes,
violin; Paul Silver, viola; David Premo, cello; Marina diPretoro,
piano; James Ferla, guitar. This CD features premiere recordings of
exciting contemporary works as well as beautiful pieces from past periods.
“DeAlmeida’s tone is wonderfully variegated,
her phrasing is supple, and her musical insights are unfailingly illuminating.
Her apt repertoire choices provide her with a fine playground on which to
display her musical assets.” Fanfare, July/August 2006
“Ms. DeAlmeida has been headmistress of
the Pittsburgh Symphony since 1991, and is
hands down one of the best players in the world. Her sound is pliable, soft,
but with a lot of strength underneath – a very American quality, and I love it.
This recital gathers music both contemporary and older, all of it very fine and
listenable.” American Record Guide, July/August 2006
Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida became principal oboe of the Pittsburgh
Symphony in September 1991. For two years prior to this she was associate
principal oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Since joining the Pittsburgh
Symphony, she has been featured as soloist in concertos by Bach, Haydn, Mozart,
Strauss, and Vaughan Williams. In 1993 the Pittsburgh Symphony commissioned a
concerto for DeAlmeida by Leonardo Balada, which she recorded with the
orchestra and Lorin Maazel for New World Records. She can also be heard in
André Previn’s Sonata for Oboe, Bassoon, and Pianowith Nancy
Goeres and André Previn on Crystal Records CD870.
DeAlmeida received the
Bachelor of Music degree from
the University of Michigan where she studied with Arno
Mariotti, and a Master of Music degree
from Temple University in Philadelphia as a student of
Richard Woodhams. She has been a faculty member of
the Music Academy of the West in Santa
Barbara, California since 2002. In Pittsburgh she teaches
at Carnegie Mellon Universityand is the Coordinator of the
Woodwind Department. She has given master classes in the United States,
Europe, the Far East, and South America, and is a frequent guest artist at
the annual convention of the International Double Reed Society.
In
November 2003, DeAlmeida was featured on national television on the CBS “Early
Show” in a story relating to the oboe and its remarkable health benefits for
asthma sufferers. This has led to her affiliation with the American Respiratory
Alliance.
“Her mellifluous timbre is also an asset in the modern and/or
contemporary peices, The variety of styles and of
scoring on this disc makes it one of the most enjoyable of recent woodwind
recitals. Sound is excellent.” Fanfare (Phillip Scott)
CD825 Sound samples (mp3 files) Click on the link to
hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
(to return to this page after listening to
samples, please use your browser back button)
Wunderer: Sonata in B minor I. Andante II. Tempo giusto III. Adagio ma non troppo IV. Presto Reinecke: Trio
in A minor I. Allegro moderato II. Scherzo: Molto vivace III. Adagio IV. Finale: Allegro ma non troppo Arnold:
Quartet for Oboe, Violin, Viola, and Cello I. Allegro non troppo II. Allegretto III. Vivace con brio Moricz: Three
Consequences for Four Players I. Allegro deciso II. Valse lente III. Allegro giocoso
CD825 – SILVER and GOLD, Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida, Oboe; Noah Bendix-Balgley, 
Violin;
Meng Wang, Viola; William Caballero, Horn; David Premo, Cello; Marina Schmidt
Lupinacci, Piano; Rodrigo Ojeda, Piano.
Alexander Wunderer, Sonata
in B minor for Oboe and Piano, op. 3; Carl Reinecke, Trio in A
minor for Oboe, Horn, and Piano, op. 188; Malcolm Arnold, Quartet
for Oboe, Violin, Viola, and Cello, op. 61; Michael Moricz, Three
Consequences for Four Players (Oboe, Horn, Cello, Piano). UPC
009414782526 BUY NOW
Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida
has been principal oboe with the Pittsburgh Symphony since 1991. All the
players on this CD are or were principals in the Pittsburgh Symphony. Noah
Bendix-Balgley was recently appointed First Concertmaster of the Berlin
Philharmonic. DeAlmeida was called “hands down one of the best players in the world” in a review in the American Record Guide
of her first Crystal solo CD. Of this new CD, Gramophone writes “DeAlmeida, principal oboe of the Pittsburgh
Symphony, is a poetic artist who teams beautifully with superb orchestra
colleagues...they perform so expressively.” American Record Guide writes “Her beautiful sound, fluid technique,
and fine sense of phrasing brings the whole project together.”
“Cynthia Koledo
DeAlmeida is a soloist of immense technique and considerable charm, plus first class musical judgement” Fanfare
“DeAlmeida has been
prinicipal oboe of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since
1991. This fact leads one to expect much of her, and that
expectation is not disappointed: You will not hear a getter oboist at work
today”...Fanfare (Raymond Tuttle) July/August 2016
“Cynthia Koledo
DeALmeida is—let us say it up front—a remarkable oboist. Her playing... is
always notable for its technical perfection, beauty of tone, and unforced
eloquence.” Fanfare (Ronald E. Grames) July/August 2016
“Despite its title
of Silver and Gold, almost everything is golden about this
disc.” Fanfare (Colin Clarke) July/August2016
“DeAlmeida is a poetic artist
who teams beautifully with superb orchestra colleagues and sensitive
Pianists” Gramophone
CD825 Sound samples (mp3 files) Click on the link
to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
(to return to this page after listening to
samples, please use your browser back button)
Wunderer: Sonata in B minor Mvmt I Mvmt II Mvmt III Mvmt IV Reinecke: Trio in A minor Mvmt I Mvmt II Mvmt III Mvmt IV Arnold: Quartet for Oboe, Violin, Viola, and
Cello Mvmt I Mvmt II Mvmt III Moricz: Three Consequences for Four
Players Mvmt I Mvmt II Mvmt III
CD828: THREE RIVERS TRIOS. Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida, Oboe; William Caballero, Horn; 
Rodrigo Ojeda, Piano. UPC 009414782823.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Trio for
Oboe, Horn, and Piano; Robert Kahn (1865-1951), Serenade in F Minor, op.
73; Chris Massa (bn. 1981), Scenes from Lake Chautauqua; Eric Ewazen
(bn. 1954), Three Rivers Trios; Heinrich Molbe (1825-1915) (Heinrich von
Bach), Air Arabe. BUY
NOW
Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida, William Caballero, and Rodrigo Ojeda are Principal Oboe, Horn, and Piano with the Pittsburgh Symphony,
positions they have held since 1991, 1989, and 2006, respectively. All have
been featured frequently as soloists.
"Congratulations for
this triumph of a chamber music album. The Mozart is a reimagining of the
well-loved Quintet
K. 407...The virtuosity of
DeAlmeida, Caballero, and Ojeda lends itself to this reduction of the original
instrumentation...the trio's musical sensitivity especially shines in the
middle Andante
movement. DeAlmeida and
Caballero weave their sweeping musical lines together...a testament to the
musical maturity they have developed performing together for over three
decades...Massa's piece is a beautiful and earnest addition to the
repertoire...there is some seriously spellbinding unison playing. Kahn's Serenade is a gorgeous, complex piece. [Ewazen's piece] creates the
feeling of a pastorale landscape within his music and is deftly handled by the
musicians." The Horn Call, April 2025, reviewed by Elizabeth Schmidt
Fanfare Magazine has called Cynthia DeAlmeida “hands down, one of the best oboe players in the
world”.
Gramophone magazine
wrote, “Pittsburgh’s first horn (William Caballero) is as spectacular as any on disc.”
“a unique chamber CD…refined individual playing and
stunning tonal blend between the oboe and horn…the three are extremely
well-matched in style and create a playful dialogue reminiscent of Mozart’s
operas. Hearing these masterful musicians perform Mozart is a delight. While
every track on the album is a gem, two other stand-out performances are the newly-commissioned works depicting bodies of water: Chris
Massa’s 'Scenes from Lake
Chautauqua' (2020) and Eric Ewazen’s 'Three Rivers Trio' (2023). The 'Barn Dance' movement in Massa’s piece is
particularly fun, with playful rustic rhythms laid down by the horn and piano.
Above the rhythmic background, triumphant horn lines ascend
and the sensual tone of the oboe joins in a countermelody.
“DeAlmeida, Caballero, and Ojeda have
produced a joyful and optimistic album featuring classic and tonal contemporary
works. On a deeper level Three Rivers Trios is a beautiful celebration of partnership.” IDRS “The Double Reed” Journal, Issue 47-3,
Fall 2024, reviewed by Meghan Woodard.
Three Rivers Trios: The title of this album and Eric Ewazen’s piece are a tribute to the city
of Pittsburgh, where the Allegheny River and Monongahela River converge to form
the Ohio River. The photograph on the cover is of the three soloists on Mt.
Washington overlooking downtown Pittsburgh.
CD828 Sound samples
(mp3 files) Click on
the link to hear 35 seconds or more of the title shown. (to return to this page
after listening to samples, please use your browser back button) Samples by
Riccardo Schulz, Recording Engineer.
Mozart Trio: Mvt. 1 (Allegro) Mvt.
2 (Andante) Mvt.
3 (Allegro) Kahn: Serenade in F Minor Massa
Scenes from Lake Chautauqua: 1. First Light 2. Sunrise 3. Barn Dance 4. The Moon on the Lake Ewazen
Three Rivers Trio: Mvt. 1 (Allegro energico) Mvt.
2 (Andante teneramente) Mvt. 3 (Allegro energico) Molbe: Air Arabe
CD870: 25th Anniversary, International Double Reed Society. Andre Previn: Trio for Piano, Oboe and Bassoon (1994); Jean
Francaix: Trio pour Hautbois, Basson et Piano (1994); Heitor Villa-Lobos: Duo
pour Hautbois et Basson (1957); Gioacchino Rossini: Six Arias from the Barber
of Seville (arr. Gebauer). UPC
009414787026 BUY NOW
This CD demonstrates the superb artistry and
virtuosity of today’s double reed professionals. Performing are some of the
best oboists and bassoonists in the world:
John Mack (first oboe, Cleveland Orchestra), David McGill (first bassoon,
Chicago Symphony), Alex Klein (first oboe, Chicago Symphony), George Sakakeeny
(Professor, Oberlin Conservatory, formerly principal bassoon, New Japan
Philharmonic of Tokyo), Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida (first oboe, Pittsburgh
Symphony), Nancy Goeres (first bassoon, Pittsburgh Symphony), Stefano Canuti
and Sergio Azzolini (bassoonists major Italian orchestras). With Andre Previn,
Piano, and Elizabeth De Mio, Piano.
Sound samples (uses
RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear approximately one minute of the movement
shown.
Francaix Trio: Mvt 1 (Adagio) Mvt 2 (Resolute) Mvt 3 (Andante) Mvt 4 (Finale) Rossini
Arias: Mvt 1 (Ecco ridente) Mvt 2 (Largo) Mvt 3 (Una voce) Mvt 4 (Dunque) Mvt 5 (Zitti zitti) Mvt 6 (Felice innesto)
Villa-Lobos Duo: Mvt 1 (Allegro) Mvt 2 (Lento) Mvt 3 (Allegro
vivace) Previn Trio: Mvt 1 (Lively) Mvt 2 (Slow) Mvt 3 (Jaunty)
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