Search - Mozart, Brain, Karajan :: Horn Concertos 1-4

Among the greatest recordings ever made

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 07/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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

Larry VanDeSande | 06/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"