C.P.E. BACH: Oboe Concertos and Sonatas - Hermitage Ch. Orchestra/Alexei Utkin, oboe - Caro Mitis

C.P.E. BACH: Oboe Concertos and Sonatas = Trio Sonata in D Minor for Flute, Oboe & Basso Continuo; Concerto in E-flat Major for Oboe, Strings & Basso Continuo; Sonata in G Minor for Oboe and Harpsichord; Concerto in C Minor for Oboe, Strings & Basso Continuo - Alexei Utkin, oboe/Hermitage Chamber Orchestra - Caro Mitis multichannel SACD CM 0112004, 62:18 ****:

C.P.E. Bach, the second son of J.S., was better known than his father at the end of the 18th century in Germany. His over 1000 compositions including 50 keyboard concertos and many works featuring the oboe - which was considered by many the favorite musical instrument of the time. These four works with the oboe demonstrate the lighter, more melody-focused music of C.P.E. compared to the denser, more contrapuntal writing of his father. Greater emotional expression is another feature of Emanuel’s style - sometimes rising to seriously stormy levels. Only the Trio Sonata has four movements, the rest are in three. Utkin is a superb oboist and the performances are captured with an impeccable clarity and natural surround immersion. This is by the way still another fine Russian hi-res recording project, as are the Water Lily and the historic Mercury Living Presence reissues dating from the 60s.

- John Sunier

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