Johann Wilhelm Hertel (1727-1789) is one of the lesser-known composers of the late baroque and early classical era. Born in Eisenach, the young man travelled to the north of Germany with his father, who was a viola da gamba virtuoso engaged as a Kapellmeister at the court of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He excelled on the harpsichord and violin, and a trip to Berlin and contact with Berlin court musicians, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Franz Benda, pushed the young Johann Wilhelm to devote his life primarily to music. He studied the harpsichord with Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the violin with Franz Benda and composition with Karl Heinrich Graun. He spent his life in the service of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz court, Schwerin court. Hertel's Oboe Concertos are delightful works, expertly written, giving full vent to the many melodic possibilities of the instrument. All of them show signs of stylistic inspiration from the works of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, in particular the g-minor concerto No.5, which is a highly attractive and expressive work in Empfindsamer Stil. Played with zest and brilliance by Katarzyna Pilipiuk (oboe) and the Ensemble Il Vento, all playing period instruments and adhering to the Historically Informed Performance Practice.
