The name of the oboist and conductor Alexey Utkin is now well known both in Russia and abroad. His great natural talent was developed by the brilliant musical education he has received in the Moscow Conservatory. In 2000 Utkin set up and headed The Ensemble of Soloists “Hermitage”. On delectable SACD from Caro Mitis Alexi Utkin playing music of Haydn, one of his favorite composers. The Oboe Concerto actually wasn’t written by Haydn although attributed to him, the oboe plays a relatively insignificant part as one of four soloists in the well-known Sinfonia concertante, and the oboe d’amore here replaces the cello in the Divertimento. Exquisite performances, beautifully recorded.

In the mid-18th century a composition bearing the name Sinfonia concertante captivated audiences at large public concerts in Paris, London and Mannheim. In many ways akin to a solo concerto, symphonies with the participation of a group of solo instruments were seen primarily as an alternative to the usual orchestral symphony – somewhat lighter in content, but far more virtuoso and showy by nature…

Little is known about Giuseppe Ferlendis who was appointed oboist at the court of Archbishop of Salzburg Prince Hieronymus Colloredo on April 1, 1777. But irrespective of whether Ferlendis was a profound or average musician, his appearance in Salzburg orchestra inspired young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to create one of his rare compositions with solo oboe: Concerto in C major KV 314…