An appropriately titled and delightful collection from the Russian hi-res label, starring the work of their leading oboe soloist Alexei Utkin, who has appeared on several other Caro Mitis SACDs. Strauss is known for his stylistic diversity. These five works come from his youth, transcriptions of songs he wrote for his wife early in their marriage, and finally? the autumnal oboe concerto – the major work here – from 1945. This last work was inspired by the first oboist of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra – John de Lancie. It is a playful four-movement concerto with all four of them in major keys. The 11-minute prelude to his opera Capriccio is a sort of opera meditation for oboe and string orchestra.
The recording was made in the studios of the Russian TV and Radio Broadcasting Company in Moscow by Polyhymnia International – as are all the Caro Mitis SACDs – and sonics are of highest quality.
– John Sunier
