The World of Oboe

The oboe is mostly used as a solo instrument in the orchestra and has inspired composers to write some of the most beautiful music in the world. Here is a short list of orchestral works containing the most famous (or fun) solos in the repertoire. A quick search on any music source that sells classical music will get a whole bunch of recordings available. (I like the oboists who play in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, and St. Paul the best.)

Maurice Ravel, Le Tombeau de Couperin

Tchaikovsky, Suite from Swan Lake

Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4

Richard Strauss, Don Juan

Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade

Camille Saint-Saens, Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah

Ibert, Escales

Want more oboe? The undisputed best oboist in the world, perhaps ever, is Alex Klein. Any recording by him is AMAZING!