Concerto for flute, in D Major, MH 81

Michael Haydn: Concerto for flute, in D Major, MH 81 was written in 1764. While frequently recorded as "Concerto No. 1," Michael Haydn specifically titled the autograph Concertino. In the 18th century, this indicated a work of smaller proportions or fewer movements than a standard concerto. Like his later concerto (MH 105), this was written for Franz Deibl, the principal flautist of the Salzburg Court Orchestra and a close associate of the Mozart family. Since the autograph manuscript is dated May 20, 1764, the premiere most likely took place in May or June 1764 at the Prince-Archbishop's palace in Salzburg.
The year 1764 was a "honeymoon period" for Michael Haydn in Salzburg. He had recently been appointed Concertmaster (1762) and was eager to impress the Prince-Archbishop Sigismund von Schrattenbach. At age 26, he was successfully stepping out from the shadow of his brother Joseph, establishing himself as a more "modern" and "Galant" voice than the older generation of Salzburg musicians.
In May 1764, while Michael was finishing this Concertino, the Mozart family (Leopold, Wolfgang, and Nannerl) was in London during their famous "Grand Tour." Because the Mozarts were away, Michael Haydn became the dominant musical figure in the city. This allowed him to experiment with the Salzburg Court Orchestra's winds, leading to the "shimmering" woodwind style for which he became famous.
Up until 2019, the piece was known as two movement composition, consisting of 1. Adagio and 2. Allegro molto. According to the research of Wolfgang Brunner (director of Salzburger Hofmusik) and the critical commentary accompanying the Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich (DTÖ), the version we present here is based on a reconstruction of the original 1764 Salzburg parts.