Mozart:The Wind Concertos

1. Sinfonia concertante for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon & orchestra in E flat major (spurious), K(3) 297b (K. C. 14.01)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Steven Dibner , William Purvis , David Singer , Stephen Taylor

2. Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Charles Neidich

3. Andante for flute & orchestra in C major, K. 315 (K. 285e)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Susan Palma

4. Bassoon Concerto in B flat major, K. 186e (K. 191)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Frank Morelli

5. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with William Purvis

6. Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412/514 (K. 386b)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with David Jolley

7. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with William Purvis

8. Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with David Jolley

9. Oboe Concerto in C major, K. 314 (K. 285d)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
10. Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major, K. 313 (K. 285c)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
11. Concerto for flute, harp & orchestra in C major, K. 299 (K. 297c)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Nancy Allen , Susan Palma

Tracks:

Horn Concerto No.1 In D, K.412: Allegro
Horn Concerto No.1 In D, K.412: Rondo (Allegro)
Horn Concerto No.2 In E Flat, K.417: Allegro maestoso
Horn Concerto No.2 In E Flat, K.417: Andante
Horn Concerto No.2 In E Flat, K.417: Rondo
Horn Concerto No.3 In E Flat, K.447: Allegro
Horn Concerto No.3 In E Flat, K.447: Romance (Larghetto)
Horn Concerto No.3 In E Flat, K.447: Allegro
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495: Allegro moderato
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495: Romance (Andante)
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495: Rondo (Allegro vivace)
Quintet In E Flat For Piano And Wind K.452: Largo-Allegro moderato
Quintet In E Flat For Piano And Wind K.452: Larghetto
Quintet In E Flat For Piano And Wind K.452: Rondo (Allegro)

Customer Reviews:

What Hath God Wrought?.......2007-04-02

Well ...

If you're reading this, it's likely that you have already have already heard about Dennis Brain and in particular the famous passages where his rapid playing left a generation of listeners shaking their heads in astonishment.

This is how everyone first hears of him: a sort of circus act with lots of notes but without the great tone that distinguishes really good horn playing. This first impression is strengthened by stories about the strange, narrow-bore horn he played and by the sound of occasionally clipped staccato notes and a tight low range. As someone once said, "My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed!"

But in Brain's case as well as in Fitzwilliam Darcy's, closer acquaintance reverses the impression altogether.

At odds with the idea of frenetic speed, Brain produces some of the most sensitive phrase shaping you'll find in any musical recordings. His effortless mastery gives many passages a relaxed feeling that suggests he is playing them a third lower than written. His recordings of hornists' two signature pieces -- Strauss's first horn concerto and Mozart's third -- are both gentler than any other recording in the catalogue. He plays the Mozart third at a surprisingly slow tempo and turns the first page of the Strauss, which most players muscle up on, into a lullaby.

In the middle and upper ranges, Brain's tone, while unobtrusive, is so full and pure that many people say they have a tendency to block out everything else and just listen to that sound. That may not seem an asset for ensemble playing, but his accompaniment playing was wonderful and his reliability a huge asset for his colleagues. The expectation of perfection became so other-worldly that, on the inevitable day when Brain finally flubbed a passage in rehearsal, the always mischievous Sir Thomas Beecham stopped the orchestra, put his baton down, and just said, "Thank God."

Brain's trills, lip trills in particular, are uniquely clear, and at the end of the day, yes, there is that fabulously rapid articulation that leaves listeners wondering whether they were dreaming what they just heard.

This playing all emanated from a personality that was apparently of the utmost simplicity and modesty. Alan Civil had the last word on this forty years ago in his remembrance of Brain on the jacket of "The Art of Dennis Brain" album (Seraphim 60040, if you can find it). Brain's early, accidental death strikes one the same way as Beethoven's deafness does: a hint that higher forces are at play.

No, this is not a review of Brain's Mozart. It is an invitation to begin an acquaintance. Dig in!

World class music.......2007-01-10

By far the best rendition of the Mozart Horn Concertos ever produced. David Brain must be the "El Supremo" of horn playing. An added bonus on this CD is the Quintet in E flat for piano and wind and with Colin Horsley as the pianist is an added treat for New Zealanders. A "MUST HAVE" for all lovers of Mozart.

I Wish Dennis Brain Had Been Born So That His Performing Powers Peaked in 1995.......2006-05-17

I purchased The LP in 1953 and proceeded to 'wear it out.' No, I have not yet thrown it out.

However, I have had the good fortune to find myself a resident of the San Francisco Peninsula since 1970 and, in time, have had the privilege to make the acquaintance of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, who perform one of each of their annual subscription concert series locally here in Palo Alto.

In 1992 they recorded the Horn Concertos with Lowell Greer performing them on the natural (valveless) horn, the instrument which was in use at the time Mozart composed them. Given the temperamental nature of the the instrument, the recording is doubtless a composite of many 'takes.' It is also a breathtaking performance and is now my 'standard.' See:

[...]

Take a moment to listen to some of the available tracks.

Form your own opinion.

A Master Performs a Master.......2005-08-20

I'm not much of a classical music reviewer. I've been exposed to a lot of music, but I tend to stick to favorite performances, so I don't have the depth needed to really be authoritative. Except perhaps for oboe, and that's because I grew up listening to John De Lancie and Marcel Tabuteau - and once you hear really good, you know what's what. This album is a similar case. Dennis Brain wasn't a 'good' French horn player, he was probably the best that there ever was or will be.

I've heard a lot of performance horn players. All you have to do to see what I mean is to wander through this website and pick off performances of the first movement of Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat and you will discover that Brain never blurbles a note, and every attack in the Allegro Maestoso is pinpoint. He is technically and tonally perfect and couples that with a superb musical sensibility. It was one of the great musical tragedies that he died at the age of 36.

Something to keep in mind is that when Mozart wrote these works for his good friend (and cheesemonger) Joseph Leutgeb, the French horn was a very limited instrument. Many of the notes were reached by stopping the bell to some degree, which affected volume and intonation. Mozart wrote to take advantage of Leutgeb's expertise at this, and Dennis Brain chooses to maintain this effect rather than just play his modern instrument with no thought to the past.

These compositions cover a fair range of time. Number 2(K.417) is really the earliest (1783). And the incomplete No. 1 (K.412) is really the last (1791). The best though, in both my mind and Mozart's is the Quintet in E flat for piano & wind. Mozart was a master in using instrument groupings in novel and powerful fashion and this is no exception.

EMI has remastered this CD over their previous release, which enhances clarity, and makes it easier to hear Dennis Brain's considerable finesse. I own their first release and the difference in clarity makes it worth finding this edition. But even the duller production of the 1997 is enjoyable. It you want a good selection of Dennis Brain's work on one CD this is an excellent buy.

Mozart: Horn Concert.......2005-08-14

Great recordings of the century, and that is what it is.
Herbart von Karajan conducting, and Dennis Brain on horn tells it all; a wonderful rich music experience are waiting for you.
In my ears its probably one of the best recordings ever made of the horn concert. And even though its from the mid 50`s it comes in a wonderful remastered CD.
The CD comes with a very good booklet in English; telling the story behind the record.
I highly recommend this album

Average customer rating:

The Value Far Exceeds the Cost
Value Packed Concerto Set
Great Set of Concertos
Fine performances with superb accompaniments.
Great de Peyers and Tuckwell performances

Mozart: Wind Concertos

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000040OX6
Release Date: 2000-02-08

Tracks:

Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: I Allegro
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: II Adagio
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: III Rondo; Allegro
Flute Concerto No. 1 In G Major, K313 (285C): I Allegro maestoso
Flute Concerto No. 1 In G Major, K313 (285C): II Adagio non troppo
Flute Concerto No. 1 In G Major, K313 (285C): III Rondo: Tempo di menuetto
Oboe Concerto In C Major, K314: I Allegro aperto
Oboe Concerto In C Major, K314: II Adagio non troppo
Oboe Concerto In C Major, K314: III Rondo: Allegretto

Tracks:

Bassoon Concerto In B Flat Major, K191: I Allegro
Bassoon Concerto In B Flat Major, K191: II Andante ma adagio
Bassoon Concerto In B Flat Major, K191: III Rondo: Tempo di menuetto
Horn Concerto No. 1 In D Major, K412: I Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 1 In D Major, K412: II Rondo: Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 2 In E Flat Major, K417: I Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 2 In E Flat Major, K417: II Andante
Horn Concerto No. 2 In E Flat Major, K417: III Rondo: Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E Flat Major, K447: I Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E Flat Major, K447: II Romance: Larghetto
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E Flat Major, K447: III Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 4 In E Flat Major, K495: I Allegro maestoso
Horn Concerto No. 4 In E Flat Major, K495: II Romance: Andante cantabile
Horn Concerto No. 4 In E Flat Major, K495: III Rondo: Allegro vivace

Customer Reviews:

The Value Far Exceeds the Cost.......2005-06-28

Not only does this 2-CD set present a great set of pieces by Mozart, but the renditions given are among the best anywhere. Much good has been said about the performances of the clarinet and horn concertos, and rightly so. I must, however, being a flute player, comment on William Bennett's wonderful G Major concerto: you would be hard-pressed to find a more songful and intense recording. The bassoon concerto is the best I've heard, as is the oboe concerto. The horn concertos, though thoroughly enjoyable, are bested by James Sommerville. I would also recommend you compare the clarinet concerto here with Bohm's on DG, which is transcendent.

Value Packed Concerto Set.......2002-01-19

Outstanding value from this two-CD set. Highlighting this solid recording is a marvelous clarinet performance by de Peyer backed solidly by the London Symphony and what could be the best of the horn renderings of Mozart's Concertos by Tuckwell again with the London Symphony. The balance and mood here by their interpretation is excellent, with the strength and toning by de Peyer and Tuckwell superb.

These are ably supplemented by very able renditions of the oboe and bassoon concertos respectively by Mack and McGill with the Cleveland Orchestra.

One will not go astray by having this set in their collection.

Great Set of Concertos.......2001-03-19

This is a marvelous set of mozart's wind concertos. De Peyer is an incredible musician who executes the clarinet concerto with sheer brilliance. Elegant and refined, this is the only recording of this concerto you'll ever need. The flute and bassoon concertos are remarkable as well. John Mack is a wonderful player who shapes the most beautiful phrases in the oboe concerto, and puts a touch of elegance on every note he plays. Tuckwell is a notoriously excellent musician, and his interpretation of the horn concertos are certainly 1st-rate, with an accompaniment to match. These CD's are certainly an asset to any Mozart-lover.

Fine performances with superb accompaniments........2000-09-07

Both Barry Tuckwell on horn and Gervais de Peyer on clarinet are fine soloists who play their respective concertos beautifully. However, it is the suberb accompaniments by Peter Maag -- an extremely gifted Mozart conductor -- which provide the polish which makes this a 5-star set.

Great de Peyers and Tuckwell performances.......2000-04-04

The clarinet concerto played by de Peyer is undoubtedly the best recorded performance of this great concerto. The sound is absolutely beautiful and the interpretation is retrained but elegant to the extreme. The orchestra under Maag played precisely and stylishly. In spite of the age of this recording, the sonic quality is very fine. Tuckwell's performance is as fantastic as one would expect from the all time greatest horn player.

Average customer rating:

Great collection, value
A great way to get Mozart's concertos
A great set of Mozart concertos
Excellent - Worth Every Penny!
Highly enjoyable

Complete Wind Concertos
Mozart , and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000065TV1
Release Date: 2002-06-11

Customer Reviews:

Great collection, value.......2007-05-31

This is a really neat collection of the Mozart wind concertos. I really like the Sinfonia Concertante and Bassoon Concertos. The bassoonist here does a fantastic job with that concerto; he is matched only be Thuneman and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. The cadenza for said concerto is also interesting, and provided some inspiration for my own cadenza when I performed the work.

Overall this CD is a MUST HAVE, most particularly for the performances, but also because it is pretty cheap for such great music.

A great way to get Mozart's concertos.......2005-11-11

This set of three discs is a great, economical way to fill out your collection of Mozart concertos. Contained are good to excellent versions of all 4 horn concertos, the three works featuring flute, the fine clarinet concerto and the early bassoon and oboe concertos. The digitally recorded sound is very clear if occasionally dry and the balance between soloists and orchestra is quite natural. Many times, particularly with the flute works, on other recordings the soloist ends up being unnaturally favored but not so here.

The Sinfonia Concertante which opens the collection is a delightful work even if it is not actually a Mozart composition -- which it almost certainly is not. The Clarinet soloist in the clarinet concerto plays beutifully and I think rivals Leister's great work with Karajan. The four horn concertos are fine even if the soloists are not quite at the level of the famous Brain recordings. The Bassoon and Oboe soloists are truly excellent and these are the best versions of these pieces I have yet heard.

This collection can be recommended highly.

A great set of Mozart concertos.......2005-09-01

This set is an excellent value. 212 minutes of Mozart's music at a very modest price. And what music! The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra does a superb job.

The first disc begins with the Sinfonia Concertante for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon and Orchestra. Next is one of Mozart's last works, the beautiful Clarinet Concerto. Charles Neidich is the soloist, on basset clarinet, and his technique is simply the best. I also like his cadenzas very much. By the way, the use of the basset clarinet makes this concerto so much better! It was indeed written for the basset clarinet, which goes four half-notes lower than a normal A clarinet, and five half-notes lower than a normal B-flat clarinet. And the disc finishes with an Andante for Flute and Orchestra, with Susan Palma on the flute.

The second disc has the famous four horn concertos. William Purvis is the soloist for concertos 2 and 3 (playing his own cadenzas, of course). David Jolley solos for concertos 1 and 4. Purvis does a fine job, and I like Jolley even more. The disc also has a very nice recording of an early Mozart work, the bassoon concerto (written when Mozart was 18). Frank Morelli is the solist here, and offers us nice cadenzas too.

The final disc begins with the Oboe concerto, where we get Randall Wolfgang as the soloist (playing his own cadenza). Then we hear the Flute concerto, followed by the Flute and Harp concerto. Susan Palma is the flute soloist on both of these, and she plays her own impressive array of cadenzas. Nancy Allen does a great job on the harp on the latter piece.

I highly recommend this set of discs.

Excellent - Worth Every Penny!.......2004-08-19

I have heard all these pieces and even played some myself over the years and thought that this was an excellent collection of Mozart's wind concerti. You really get to see the development of this prodigy from his teens (bassoon concerto) to his late 30s, the clarinet concerto was one of his last crowning pieces.

The oboe and bassoon concerti were both delightful and the "clicking" of the keys mentioned by another reviewer are the limitations of the instruments. I'm an oboist and all oboes and bassoons make this noise. I don't find it distracting at all. If you hear it, think of it as an percussive accompaniment. :-) I thought the bassoon concerto to be one of the best interpretations yet and the oboe concerto was confident and bright.

The Sinfonia Concertante (one of my original reasons for purchasing the set) was delightfully balanced and playful - a definite pleasure.

The flute concerto and andante were both fun to listen to as well as the concerto for flute and harp. The horn concerti are always joyful and are a nice balance to all the woodwind (technically-speaking) music.

The clarinet concerto was indeed lovely and played on a basset clarinet so there were some richer tones than when it's played on a typical 'A' clarinet. Superb.

I thought all the concerti had wonderful cadenzas and the orchestra was excellently balanced against the soloists. This is a CD collection that you will never regret and will feed your soul.

Highly enjoyable.......2004-06-02

Mozart wind concertos may not rank among his finest and deepest works, but they indeed show that a master is at work. It is difficult to judge a whole set, and you may probably find some better versions of this music, but I think that this recording deserves some praise. The performings from both the soloists and the orchestra are solid, stylish and virtuosistic. To name an example I consider the clarinet concerto to be one of the best achievements here. The slow movement is just a miracle of beauty, and at one point the soloist leads the orchestra to an incredible pianissimo nuance, so soft and delicate that you may be afraid of breathing. Mozart's music is just so beautiful that instead of writing about it we should just listen and enjoy. Moreover the price is very attractive, so no excuses!

Average customer rating:

Double Reed showcase--Strauss, Mozart, Weber
LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES
Decent but disappointing

Mozart, Strauss, Weber: Wind Concertos

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000029S9
Release Date: 1996-09-24

Tracks:

Concerto For Oboe And Orchestra In C Major, K. 314: I. Allegro aperto
Concerto For Oboe And Orchestra In C Major, K. 314: II. Adagio non troppo
Concerto For Oboe And Orchestra In C Major, K. 314: III. Rondo. Allegretto
Concerto For Oboe And Small Orchestra: Allegro moderato - Vivace - Tempo primo
Concerto For Oboe And Small Orchestra: Andante -
Concerto For Oboe And Small Orchestra: Vivace -
Concerto For Oboe And Small Orchestra: Allegro - Vivace
Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra In B-Flat Major, K. 191: I. Allegro
Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra In B-Flat Major, K. 191: II. Andante ma adagio
Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra In B-Flat Major, K. 191: III. Rondo. Tempo di Menuetto
Hungarian Fantasy For Bassoon And Orchestra: Andante e Rondo ungarese per il fagotto principale, Op. 35. J. 158

Customer Reviews:

Double Reed showcase--Strauss, Mozart, Weber.......2006-03-20

This CD from Sony combines some of the finest recordings of these pieces I have ever heard. These pieces are all at the top of the repertoire for their respective instruments and played by the world's best performers.

The two Mozart concertos here both receive fine interpretations by the Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy conducting his principal musicians, oboist John deLancie and Bernard Garfield. If the orchestra at times sounds a bit heavy, and the tempi a touch slow--because we are now accustomed to hearing these pieces by chamber orchestras and period instruments ensembles--this will be made up for by the exuberant and precise execution of one of the best orchestra-conductor relationships ever. deLancie, carrying the torch from his predecessor Marcel Tabuteau, proves that he was certainly one of the leaders in a generation of great oboists which include John Mack, Ray Still, Harold Gomberg. deLancie's phrasing is beautiful, his sound warm, and gives an all-around artful performance, especially in the delightful closing rondo movement. Garfield also shines in Mozart, with a beautiful rich bassoon tone that is always singing, both in the low and high registers of his instrument. Garfield and the Philadelphia Orchestra also do a wonderful job with Weber's Hugarian Rondo. Garfiled gives great character to some of the variations, always with great technique. It is hard to say enough praises about these two stellar soloists caught in classic recordings from the early 1960s.

But there is more... The author of the liner notes writes that Strauss' concerto is a "liquid, constantly developing essay into the very nature of the oboe itself, as well as the orchestra which surrounded it... they play 'into' one another, the oboe dovetailing here and there into the orchestral texture, which itself emerges and submerges according to the musical demands of the journey. It is as if throughout all of his previous orchestral writing... Strauss had been preparing to write this work, polishing his knowledge of and challenging each instrument to its maximum capacity." I don't think there is a better description of this piece, and that is exactly the way the performers do it. Neil Black hands over a spectacular version of this devilishly difficult Strauss Oboe Concerto backed by the English Chamber Orchestra and Daniel Barenboim. Black's playing is so smooth and beautiful that you will not notice the taxing long phrasing and awkward breathing patterns required of the oboist. Barenboim is no doubt intimately familiar with Strauss' large orchestra and operatic works from his conducting career, and he leads one of the world's finest chamber orchestras in an intimate and colorful orchestra accompaniment. With Barenboim's genius baton, the orchestra interacts intimately with the soloist the way Strauss intended, and the recording balance is perfect. In my opinion, the over all soloist-orchestral execution in this recording of the Strauss Concerto is only matched by Ray Still's recording, whose recording on Virgin is also available at a great price.

While I know that there are other great recordings of these pieces (I am a double reed player) this album is really a special treat--so much great double reed playing on one CD! With 74 minutes of music at $6.98, this CD is also a tough deal to beat. It should definitely be in your collection.

LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES.......2002-07-09

These recordings are some of the finest examples of double reed performance bar none. You have recordings by some of Americas greatest double reed performers and one of the truest examples of the "Philadelphia" school of wind playing. The significance in this is that the American School of oboe performance comes from the Philadelphia school through Marcel Tabuteau, who was John de Lancie's teacher. When you hear de Lancie's unsurpassed and flawless artistry, you hear Tabuteau. Bernard Garfield is a true living ledgend and in my opinion there is no better recording of the Mozart Concerto or the Hungarian Rondo than his. His sound is pure, sweet, and without equal. His level of music making is such that you begin to forget that it is a bassoon that is singing to you and that it is something else all together transcending that. I would strongly urge all oboists, bassoonists, and lovers of fine music making, to purchase this CD. These recordings stand the test of time.

Decent but disappointing.......2001-08-17

John de Lancie's playing has varied a lot over time, and his sound was constantly evolving over his career. This recording early in his career with the Philadelphia Orchestra of the Mozart Oboe Concerto is fairly poor. His tone is nasal and weak and his performance gives very little life to this sparkling concerto. Phrasing and dynamics are practically nonexistent. His tempos are also too slow in the 1st and 3rd mvmts. I prefer Lothar Koch's version with the Berlin Phil over this one.
Neil Black's recording of the Strauss Concerto is better, but has some obvious problems. His tempo and phrasing seem agitated at times, and he seems unsure in the high range and difficult passages. However, this is probably the most difficult piece in the oboe repetoire, and Black pulls together a decent performance. If you want to hear how this piece was meant to sound, I recommend the Alex Klein recording with CSO. The Bassoon pieces are both well done by Garfield. Overall decent, but disappointing. There are much better recordings out there, especially for the Mozart oboe concerto. Nonetheless, I have yet to find a fully satisfying recording of the Mozart. Two stars for de Lancie's performance and three for the rest.

Mozart: Horn Concertos 1-4; Quintet K 452

Average customer rating:

It doesn't get any better!
A sweet-sounding remastering of these classics

Mozart: Horn Concertos 1-4; Quintet K 452

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000BPN24U
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Tracks:

Allegro
Rondo (Allegro) (K514, Arr. Submayr)
Allegro Maestoso
Andante
Rondo
Allegro
Romance (Largehtto)
Allegro
Allegro Moderato
Romance (Andante)
Rondo (Allegro Vivace)
Largo-Allegro Moderato - Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble
Larghetto - Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble
Rondo (Allegro) - Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble

Customer Reviews:

It doesn't get any better!.......2007-06-02

This recording is over 50 years, but Dennis Brain's performance is still the benchmark for Mozart's horn concertos. Brain was the complete master of a very difficult instrument. Pure magic!

A sweet-sounding remastering of these classics.......2006-09-02

Dennis Brain's universaly acclaimed Mozart horn concertos haven't been out of hte catalog for fifty years, but for the longest while the 1953 sonics were boxy and cramped. So it's good news that in this remastering Paul Baily has amde the orchestra and soloist sound sweet, even if the boxiness still remains. Brain's playing is uniquely supple and lyrical; future horn players like Barry Tuckwell brought more fire into their playing.

The Quintet for Piano and Winds K. 452 is also a fine performance. It dates from 1954. the only caveat is ot to mistake this reading, with Colin Horsley as the (very good) pianist, for another EMI recording, also with Dennis Brain on horn but with Walter gieseking as pianist. He was, of course, much more famous than Horsley, but the present recording is livelier in the first movement, where gieseking preferred the more usual slower tempo.

Average customer rating:

Concertgebouw Principals in Mozart Wind Concerti in SACD

Mozart: Wind Concertos [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Pentatone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000BK53OM
Release Date: 2006-01-17

Customer Reviews:

Concertgebouw Principals in Mozart Wind Concerti in SACD.......2006-02-11

In this 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, the release of recordings of his music continues in full spate. I, for one, am delighted, having recently reviewed sets of his complete piano sonatas (two of them, actually) as well as DVDs of his most popular piano concerti and the da Ponte operas. This one, featuring principals of the Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam accompanied by the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra conducted by Henk Rubingh, its concertmaster, is an easy winner. Each of the performances is top-notch. As Amazon has not, as of the date of this review, listed the contents, I shall do so:

Horn Concerto No. 1 in D, K.386b (Soloist: Jacob Slagter)
Flute Concerto No. 1 in G, K.313/285c (Soloist: Emily Beynon)
Bassoon Concerto in B flat, K.191/186c (Soloist: Gustavo Nýýez)
Oboe Concerto in C, K.271k/314 (Soloist: Alexei Ogrintchouk)

Some highlights: The tricky horn articulation in the rondo of the Horn Concerto and Slagter's burnished tone throughout. The hushed and dreamy performance of the Adagio of the Flute Concerto; Emily Beynon has an incredibly lovely tone throughout but it is particularly nuanced and ravishing in that slow movement. (And the muted violins and violas of the orchestra provide a satiny foundation of sound for her gorgeous solos.) The ease and musicality with which bassoonist Gustavo Nýýez negotiates the work's high tessitura as well as its extremely tricky rapid notes, all in the service of an extremely musical, albeit virtuosic, performance. One's breath is taken away by oboist Alexei Ogrintchouk's entry in the first movement (Allegro aperto) of his concerto; that rapid scale up to a high C which is then held seemingly forever (and played with a living, breathing double messa di voce) is stunning. And then there is the marvelous cadenza ending the first movement.

All this is recorded in SACD with utterly lifelike and rich sound -- very clean, too for all its being recorded in a church acoustic (Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam). These are completely satisfying performances and when heard in the SACD surround sound all the more so. But for those who have not yet converted to SACD equipment, the sound is also impressive when played on a regular CD machine.

Unequivocal recommendation.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

Highly recommended: a great bargain

Mozart: The Wind Concertos, Serenades

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Mozart: The Symphonies
Mozart: The String Quartets
Mozart: Piano Concertos
Karl Böhm Conducts Mozart and Strauss
Mozart: The Piano Sonatas

ASIN: B000G7599O
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended: a great bargain.......2006-11-07

Bohm's integral recording of the Mozart Wind Concertos, supplemented with some String and Wind Serenades presented in this DG 7 disc set, is a great bargain at around $40.00, and highly recommended by me.

In this set, you get the Clarinet, Flute No. 1, Oboe, Bassoon, Horn 1-4,
Flute/Harp Concertos; Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Posthorn Serenade, Haffner Serenade, Serenata Notturna, and Wind Divertimenti (some without Bohm's direction), in one neat little package. The Vienna Philharmonic is employed in the Concertos and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik; the Berlin Philharmonic in the Posthorn, Notturna, and Haffner Serenades.

Recorded in the 1970s in beautifully spread stereo sound, these are among DG's best sounding recordings: better than many new Digital issues. There is a warmth and purity which will make you forget the cares of the day or storminess of our times. Bohm had just the right feeling for Mozart, and it is warm, loving and sensitive, without being sentimental.

I cannot say enough positive about these recordings, or Bohm's Berlin Philharmonic Mozart Symphonies, just reissued by DG in a similar "Collector's Edition" to this one. If you want to make a great investment, get this, + the Bohm/Berlin Mozart Symphonies (10 CDs), and Bohm's DG DVD release of Mozart Symphonies (released in July, 2006) which has live and studio recordings of 13 of Mozart's Symphonies with the Vienna Philharmonic (1, 25, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 41) and Vienna Symphony (33, 39)from 1969-78, with great sound and picture quality.

Highly recommended.

Mozart: Violin Concertos; Wind Concertos

Average customer rating:

Mozart at his best

Mozart: Violin Concertos; Wind Concertos

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mozart: Quintets, Quartets, Trios, etc.
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Mozart: Violin Sonatas; String Duos & Trios
Mozart: Serenades, Dances, Marches
Mozart: String Quartets; String Quintets

ASIN: B00004YSBF
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Customer Reviews:

Mozart at his best.......2006-07-10

Excellent recording;

As good as the Christopher Hogwood interpretation I oredered in the first place.

Average customer rating:

Extraordinary player, aggressive interpretations
An interesting look at the classical trombone.

Classical Concertos

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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The Virtuoso Trombone
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American Trombone Concertos
Trombonastics

ASIN: B0002ABTA8
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Customer Reviews:

Extraordinary player, aggressive interpretations.......2004-09-04

Lindberg is simply an extraordinary virtuoso. The first track is the Michael Haydn concerto, which is insanely difficult and as a result rarely performed. Lindberg's technique and flexibility are as good as any I've ever heard.

There are 4 concerti on this album: Haydn, L. Mozart, Wagenseil, and Albrechtsberger. The latter three were are also recorded by Swiss virtuoso Branimir Slokar, and all told I prefer Branimir's more relaxed, laid-back interpretations. While Lindberg's virtuosity is unprecedented, it also comes across as a bit too aggressive for the classic-era literature.

Christian's playing is flawless, but it's also a bit too hot-doggish for my taste. I prefer the more relaxed, elegant sound of players like Slokar and L.A. Philharmonic trombonist Ralph Sauer.

An interesting look at the classical trombone........2004-07-11

Christian Lindberg has made another great CD. Lindberg has tackled some recently discovered compositions that were originally thought to be impossible to play on the trombone. He has never recorded any of these works before, and a trombone lover will love to listen to these beautiful works from the musical hub of the 18th century, Salzburg, Austria.

Average customer rating:

Among the greatest recordings ever made
An Excellent Recording

Mozart: Horn Concertos; Quintet, K.452

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Brain
Horn Concertos
Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

ASIN: B000002RXC
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Amazon.com

Mozart's horn concertos are among his most delightful works, full of lovely melodies and ample opportunities for virtuosos of that treacherous instrument to show their stuff. Dennis Brain, scion of a famous horn-playing family, was the world's leading hornist when these recordings were made in the early 1950s, some years before his tragic death in an auto accident, and they still rank as a major feature in his recorded legacy. His tonal beauty is extraordinary, his technique the envy of his peers, and his rhythmic command exceptional. The catalogue is full of versions of these popular works, but Brain's continues to be the one to have if you're having only one. Good, straightforward accompaniments, and the great orchestra shines. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Among the greatest recordings ever made.......2006-07-30

In 30 years buying, selling, trading, collecting and making LPs, CDs, cassettes, reel-to-reel tapes and CDs of classical music and reading classical music reviews, I have not experienced another recording that so dominates its repertoire as this one: the 4 Horn Concertos and Quintet K. 452 of Mozart.

Every critic I have ever read or heard has ranked this recording above all others in this repertoire. That was reinforced earlier this year when Barry Tuckwell's wonderful recording was re-released, a time when critics around the world took time to say Tuckwell is marvelous, but Brain is out of this world. Many gave Tuckwell the ultimate compliment, calling his recording their second favorite recording of the concertos or, perhaps, their favorite modern recording.

Once you listen to Brain it is not hard to understand why every critic has been bowled over by this recording since it was made more than 50 years ago. Brain plays his instrument to produce a singular sound that no one can replicate. Not only is his tone and breath control more remarkable than anyone else's, his sound is as if his instrument is a combination French horn and trombone. Brain produces a deeper, richer, more robust sound than anyone else.

I am not an expert in this repertoire but I have heard a number of outstanding renditions of the horn concertos and the other bit parts for horn Mozart penned. Among the better ones I'v heard are the aforementioned Tuckwell and Radovan Vlatkovic on modern instruments and performances on CD by Lowell Greer and Anthony Halstead on period horns. Greer's collection is outstanding and can be had for as little as $3 or $4 used from an Amazon vendor.

My favorite living horn player, Marie Luise Neunecker, recorded the Mozart concertos some years ago on Novalis. That recording, like much of her CD repertoire, is out of print.

I was equally surpirsed that Brain's quintet would also become a benchmark recording in the K. 452 quintet, a piece that has been recorded by many virtuoso groups over the years. Not only does Brain's group play this music as well as I've ever heard it, their playing is akin to having a basketball team comprised of five Michael Jordans: they all sound best at their part and they play with spontaneous individuality within the constraints of a group effort. Every part is always displayed even though the organic whole supercedes every part.

The recording of these 52 and 53-year old performances is another marvel, as is the restrained and sensitive accompaniment the young Herbert von Karajan the and Philharmonia Orchestra provided for virtuoso Brain in the horn concertos. Here is a recording that will probably always be the top recommendation in repertoire that will be played and recorded as long as man survives on this planet. I don't know of another recording from any period about which I can say that.

An Excellent Recording.......2001-06-23

Mozart's Horn Concertos are four of my favorite pieces of music, and this is by far my favorite recording of them. In fact, this recording was responsible for me learning to play the french horn. The tone is both crisp and light, with the mellow timbre of the horn maintained. Highly recommended!

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