Search - Antonio Vivaldi, Jan Dismas Zelenka, Johann Baptist Georg Neruda :: Die Goldene Trompete

Fun Baroque Selections of Güttler Highlights

Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 08/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ludwig Güttler looks like the reincarnation of Johann Strauus, Jr. See for example the cover of - Johann Strauss, Jr.: 100 Most Famous Waltzes, Overtures, Polka and Marches, Vol. 5 However, Güttler plays the trumpet and cornet, not the violin, and he plays both as the title of this Cd claims with a wonderful golden tone. For many years Güttler and his group Virtuosi Saxoniae have been churning out all sorts of delightful Baroque selections, all of them played not only with zest and color, but also considerable musicianship. This Cd demonstrates these skills in 19 movements taken from their recordings. Often out of the way selections by utterly forgotten composers are among the best selections! Who among even professional musicologists can speak knowingly on the music of Rathgeber, Lazzari or Mudge? Yet here they are, and thanks to Güttler's search for ever new material we find some genuine surprises.



For those who need the assurance of big names on the marque, this Cd of movements taken from a wide range of Güttler Cds also offers pieces by Vivaldi, Telemann, Hadyn, and Zelenka and Fasch. One big demerit - there is no information on the lesser known composers included. However, other Cds by this group offer better notes, so I hope this is an exception and not the rule.



Six of the selections, including both of the Vivaldi selections, feature music for two horn soloists. Three of these duets are for trumpet, three for cornet.



If you enjoy Baroque music you should find this Cd a very pleasant series of romps through the horn repertoire! If you have not heard Güttler before, and like horn players, he certainly is an outstanding player, combining a smooth legato with all the requisite technical skills. The paucity of reviews of his playing should not hold you back - Güttler is a major talent - with a tremendous pedigree and a wonderful gift of communciating the joy of music. Güttler excels as a leader in movements demanding an alert tempo - his readings of the Bach orchestra works are a perfect example of this lively enthusiam Virtuosi Saxoniae - Ludwig Guttler - J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concertos 1-6/Orchestral Suites 1-4 Güttler is one of the very few trumpet virtuoso who play even the fastest selections with varying volumes to impart a real musicality rather than full throttle, as conductor as well as soloist Güttler pays very careful attention to the all the movements, and doesn't just 'wake up' when its his turn to shine. But he is at his very best well the music requires a little excitement and fun.



Güttler has a very large number of other albums where you can find all of these selections played in full. Güttler also conducts, but I prefer him as soloist. Güttler's album featuring Corno de cassia's selections heard on this Cd is a must, showcasing spectacular playing and excellent sound. Do listen to selections 6 and 8 from the Amazon samples! You can hear him carefully adjusting his volumes and imparting rubato where often performers merely blaze away in full staccato attack. Virtuoso Concertos for Corno da cassia"