Nicholas Daniel Essentials

British oboist Nicholas Daniel has been a major force since the early '80s, when he became internationally known as a top-notch interpreter of the canon. A professor of oboe and performer of numerous commissions, Daniel plays with a thoughtful, languid style, beckoning listeners with his calculated ornamentation (Mozart's Oboe Quartet) and seductive phrasing (Thea Musgrave's Night Windows). A champion of British composers, the soloist burns especially bright when performing Vaughan Williams, Benjamin Britten, and John Woolrich—whose enigmatic Oboe Concerto syncs up perfectly with Daniel's graceful playing.