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The Art of Baroque Oboe

Michael Zwiebach on January 13, 2010
Gonzalo Ruiz
The oboe is not the easiest instrument to play under the best of circumstances. So deciding to play Baroque and classical oboes, the less-techologically advantaged forerunners of the modern instrument might seem like a recipe for frustration akin to attempting to surf the internet with a 1980s-era personal computer.

But for those, like Gonzalo Ruiz, who have mastered the art, the joys of the Baroque-era oboe's softer, more plangent sound make all the difference and justify the hours and effort spent with it. Ruiz, who is a fixture in the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and early-music ensembles throughout the area, plays a special chamber concert with Voices of Music that promises to mix virtuosity with the melodic richness that the instrument became known for.