Johann Sebastian Bach – Oboenwerke, vol.1 – Alexei Utkin, Hermitage Chamber Orchestra (2003) [SACD to FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz]

Johann Sebastian Bach – Oboenwerke, vol.1 – Alexei Utkin, Hermitage Chamber Orchestra (2003)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:02:47 minutes | 1,22 GB | Genre: Classical
Source: SACD ISO |  @ Caro MitisItem Number: CM 0012003
Recorded: 3-9.07.2003 5th Studio of The Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (RTR) Moscow, Russia

Certain works by J.S. Bach call to mind a fresco in an ancient cathedral where only the last layer of paint is visible. Or maybe a picture by an Old Master painted over an earlier image hidden from view because the artist ran out of canvas. The music of the great German composer contains many such enigmas: Bach frequently based new compositions on works written in previous years, many of which perished in their original form. But we now have the ability to recapture music that was apparently lost forever.
The four concertos by J.S. Bach (1685-1750) presented in this album were evidently written during the composer’s Köthen period (1717-1723). For many years we only knew them as lost originals of Bach’s ‘reworking’, the later keyboard concertos (end of the 1730s). Taking into account such features as the key, the range of solo melodies and the specific characteristics of melodic figures and phrases, music scholars have managed to establish which instruments the original versions of these concertos were written for. This has enabled scientifically verified ‘reconstructions’ of the originals to appear in the second half ofthe 20th century. To the delight of performers, several excellent of virtuoso compositions for oboe and orchestra appeared to be among them.

Three of the works presented here are reconstructions that are based on a good deal of scholarly skullduggery over the latter part of the twentieth century. According to the author of the liner notes, Bach’s keyboard concertos are “re-compositions,” almost certainly based on earlier works for oboe, violin and strings, the scores of which have since been painstakingly reconstructed as presented here. The fourth work is a transcription by leader Alexei Utkin for oboe, flute and violin, and is rooted in the same research efforts. Regardless of how we arrived at this point, these recordings as presented on this disc from Russian label Caro Mitis represent the best of the best; while anyone familiar with Bach’s keyboard concertos will immediately recognize their origins in these works, they possess a freshness and immediacy that are an absolute joy to listen to!
A quick read through the supplied technical information reveals that all the microphone amplification was custom built by Polyhymnia, with the DSD conversion by Meitner and Pyramix, and the proof is in the listening. These recordings just sparkle with life – they’re among the most realistic, natural sounding SACDs I currently own. This is a superb effort from Caro Mitis, and as pleasantly surprised as I was with the elegant packaging and beautiful label art, the real treat came with listening to these excellent discs. I could keep piling on the superlatives, but I think you get the picture – these discs are a must-have, and very highly recommended! ~~Tom Gibbs “Audiophile Audition”

Tracklist:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Concerto in A major for Oboe d’amore, Strings and Basso Continuo (BWV 1055)
01 Allegro [4:09]
02 Larghetto [5:09]
03 Allegro ma non tanto [4:12]Concerto in С minor for Violin, Oboe, Strings and Basso Continuo (BWV 1060)
04 Allegro [4:45]
05 Adagio [5:25]
06 Allegro [3:30]
Concerto in F major for Oboe, Strings and Basso Continuo (BWV 1053)
07 Allegro [7:32]
08 Siciliano [4:56]
09 Allegro [5:42]

Concerto in D major for Oboe, Flute and Violin (transcription of the Concerto D-majeur for Three Violins-reconstruction of the Concerto C-dur for Three Harpsichords BWV 1064
by Alexei Utkin, 2003)
10 Allegro [6:11]
11 Adagio [6:10]
12 Allegro [4:42]

Personnel:
Alexei Utkin (oboe, oboe d’amore)
Maria Chepurina (flute)
Pyotr Nikiforov (1st violin)

Hermitage Orchestra
Ilya Norshtein (1st violin)
Maria Trishina (1st violin)
Dmitry Lepekhov (2nd violin)
Egor Ivanenko (2nd violin)
Nadezhda Sergiyenko (2nd violin)
Natalia Smolina (viola)
Ekaterina Katomina (viola)
Pyotr Kondrashin (cello)
Ekaterina Dossina (cello)
Nikolas Gorshkov (double bass)
Andrei Snegiryov (basoon)
Anna Karpenko (harpsichord)

Download:

BachJ.S.benwerkevl.1AlexeiUtkinHermitageChamberrchestra200388.224.part1.rar
BachJ.S.benwerkevl.1AlexeiUtkinHermitageChamberrchestra200388.224.part2.rar