Unlike the piano, the violin or even the flute, the oboe is a relatively
rare instrument for a solo career. And when a soloist such as Albrecht
Mayer plays the oboe, one wishes composers had written more works for this
sweetly mellow instrument. Critics write about the "divine spark" that
inspires his playing, and about the "miraculous oboe" that turns into "an
instrument of seduction." With his particularly warm tone and
exceptionally broad palette of nuances, it's no surprise that Albrecht
Mayer is one of today's most sought-after international oboists. In this
documentary portrait of the oboist, we retrace the musician's impressive
career and witness some of its many high points. Mayer embarked on a
professional career in 1990, when he joined the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
as solo oboist. Two years later, he made the transition to the absolute
top league with his appointment as solo oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic,
and since then he has made countless international appearances, playing
under such eminent conductors as Abbado, Rattle and Harnoncourt. In
addition to his work as a soloist, Mayer also attaches great importance to
chamber music. He is a permanent member of the Sabine Meyer Wind Ensemble
and also plays with such partners as Thomas Quasthoff, Matthias Goerne and
Leif Ove Andsnes.
