In an extraordinary season for the great Swiss composer Heinz Holliger, ECM releases two more recordings simultaneously. This one features Holliger the dazzling instrumentalist (in music by Bach), the other, Holliger the composer of idiosyncratic genius (a disc of chamber compositions, Induuchlen).

'Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis' is a magnificent account of Bach’s concertos and sinfonias for oboe with Holliger once again proving himself unrivalled as a player of the instrument. Holliger’s albums of classical core repertoire have become infrequent, and this is his first such for ECM since his 1997 Zelenka recording.

The oboist’s superb performance also attests to his long artistic relationship with the Camerata Bern. Soloist and ensemble are in perfect accord and impeccable ECM sound renders every detail in the music crystal clear. Holliger also contributes liner notes in which he speaks of his abiding love of Bach’s work.