Recorder Concertos from Sanssouci

The instrument "flute" is closely connected with the Prussian king Frederik de Grote and his residence Sanssouci, since the Prussian king was a passionate flutist and numerous works were composed for him. For recorder player Isaac Makhdoomi, it is a special challenge to transfer these works, which were originally composed for a transverse flute, to the HIS instrument. The idea behind this was to bring new aspects and facets to the works that were originally composed for the transverse flute, and he succeeds brilliantly in this. German Record Critics' Award 2 / 2025 - Statement of the jury: The performance title "Arioso e mesto" means "vocal and sorrowful". But when the similarly titled section from Quantz' flute concerto (here in the arrangement for recorder) is transformed into an infinitely long breath, you can think of the other interpretation of the subtitle: airy melancholy. At the end of the magnificent lament, soloist Isaac Makhdoomi improvises for a few seconds in such an idiomatic and communicative manner that you immediately feel: this music, composed 275 years ago for transverse flute, finds a living heartbeat in 2025. Moreover, highly virtuosic passage work and a perfect understanding between ensemble and soloist. Splendid. (For the jury: Jörg Lengersdorf)

Reviews

Rondo 01/2025: "Makhdoomi and his excellent Ensemble Piccante make a flying start with the Quantz concerto. With this mix of precision and virtuosity, Makhdoomi never lets you get bored until the pyrotechnic finale of Franz Benda's C minor concerto. In the slow sections, on the other hand - and especially in the heavenly 'Un poco andante' in the D minor concert of C.P.E. Bach - Makhdoomi's playing is simply magical."