March 1980 Famed oboist retiring Au revoir, not goodbye By GORDON EMERSON few mixed emotions about it," he admitted, "but I'm tired Robert Bloom, world-acclaimed oboist and Yale profes- of practicing and I just don't want the pressure of concerts sor emeritus: individed that this is the last year he will play in public. any more. I don't care how long you've been playing, when you step on a stage it's not like going to a picnic. Actually But before closing a distinguished performing career I think I'm playing as well as I did 10 years ago and this which included being hand picked by Toscanini as solo past year has been one of my best. But I don't have oboist of the NBC Symphony and still includes membership anything more to prove and I've played it all." in the Bach Aria Group, Bloom will appear with the Giving up public performances does not in any manner Connecticut Chamber Orchestra at Battell Chapel on Satur- mean retirement, however Bob Bloom has always been an day, March 29, at 8 p.m. (1980) extremely energetic man and since recuperating from a heart attack seven years ago his immense vitality remains The man referred to by critic Alfred Frankenstein of undiminished Rather, playing only for his own enjoyment the San Francisco Examiner as "probably the finest oboe will allow more time for endeavors that have necessarily player in America" will collaborate with his wife and been subordinated by his busy performing career. Bloom former student Sara Lambert Bloom in Vivaldi's Concerto has composed several works for oboe and he noted, "For a for Two Oboes in D minor and conduct the orchestra for long time I've wanted to write an oboe concerto and now Sara's solo performance of Albinoni's Concerto in D minor. I'm going to do it. Also, over the years I've edited a great Rounding out the program, CCO Music Director Sayard deal of baroque music and Sara and I plan to assemble it Stone will preside over works by Purcell, Britten and all and have it published. So I'm really looking forward to William Boyce. next year." In case you're thinking that Bloom is leaving formal Just prior to his retirement from the Yale School of concert life due to failing powers, the oboist quickly dispels Music in 1976, Bloom accepted a faculty position at such a notion. During a conversation early last week Bloom Juilliard where he will continue to teach privately and was extremely candid about the decision. "Sure, I have a (Please turn to page 4) DONE A How naive we were! It wasn't until I stopped playing tteaching in 1996 to spend fulltime and still it took me 3 years on the printe d music al / for the an thology! 554