For almost a year I am in frustrated mental search for a properly performed “Andante e Rondo Ungarese”.  This is a Carl Maria Von Weber’s Op.35, two parts little composition that in my view absolutely brilliant.  It is collaboration with bassoon and orchestra and the problem in my with this piece that orchestra do not play it properly, at least what I heard (which is quite a few).

It is amusingly playfully work and bassoon almost teases the orchestra, not challenges, or combat but tease. The way how it played uselessly the orchestra just supports the bassoon’s solos. I do not like it. The orchestras shall embrace the bassoon and demonstrate equally teasing, scorny or even mockery attitude:  a sort of mix of Weber and Shostakovich told from the pages of the Onion News Source. The Weber’s Rondo is a perfect playground for it.

I really like how Valeri Popov plays the “Andante e Rondo Ungarese” – juts superbly with all necessary shadows of attitude. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valery_Popov_(musician)

Popov did a recording of the Rono with Russian State Symphony Orchestra under Valery Polyansky. Unfortunately the orchestra absolutely missed the opportunities for greatness in there and they did not play up to the level of Mr. Popov’s “execution”. Also it horribly recorded at Moscow Film studio in 1996 and dreadfully “over-mastered”. 

So, does anybody know any really good “Andante e Rondo Ungarese”, preferably on LP and preferably non-studio recording?