The Concerto in D Major for Oboe and Small Orchestra was one of the last works written by German composer Richard Strauss. It was completed in 1945, and Strauss revised the ending in 1948; the piece was inspired by John de Lancie, an American serviceman who in civilian life was a professional oboist.
After World War II the American army moved into the Bavarian resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There de Lancie, who was affiliated with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and was a longtime admirer of Strauss’ works, met with the composer and asked him, de Lancie later recalled, “if, in view of the numerous beautiful lyric solos for oboe in almost all of his works, he had ever considered writing a concerto for oboe.” Strauss had not, but he apparently took the question as a challenge, for he soon was at work on just such a piece.
The Oboe Concerto premiered in Zürich on February 26, 1946. Strauss expressed the wish that its American premiere be given by de Lancie, then an assistant principal oboist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Here is the music:
