The Art of Baroque Oboe

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.