“[...] This first-class oboist Giovanni Benedetto Platti from Würzburg, called Platti, has been here three days ago, and I would be pleased to have this truly fine chap’s art be heard in every possible way as a member of the court orchestra. [...]” This is a statement about Giovanni Benedetto Platti! And the one who speaks so highly of him is Rudolf Franz Erwein Graf von Schönborn, who is portrayed on the cover of this CD. The fact that these two people should have met in their lifetimes is to be considered a fortunate twist of fate.

Giovanni Benedetto Platti (who was presumably born in or near Padua, around 1697) had enjoyed a thorough musical education in Venice, and he subsequently went north – just like many of his compatriots. Being a virtuoso musician, he was employed at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn (an older brother of Rudolf Franz Erwein); on 2 April 1722, he was appointed ‘oboista’ of the orchestra.