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
