Search - Reinhold Gliere, Edward Downes, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra :: Reinhold Gliere: Bronze Horseman Suite/Concerto for Horn & Orchestra, Op. 91

A Nice Gliere CD.

Paul Rossi | Walla Walla, WA | 09/23/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Recently, I purchased this CD to hear a recording of the Gliere Horn Concerto, a piece I am currently working on. I have really enjoyed the CD thus far, and I will continue to do so.



The first piece on the CD, "The Bronze Horseman," is a very nice, beautiful, neo-Romantic work steeped in the Russian music traditionalists, Balakirev, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Borodin. The opening is very ominous and full of mystery. Sir Edward Downes and the orchestra give it their all.



Throughout "The Bronze Horseman," Gliere uses lush, colorful orchestration to communicate the story of the young man whose wife drowned in a river and who taunts the bronze statue of Peter the Great, which comes to life and kills him. The dance-like movements are light and rhythmically precise, giving a sprightly feel. One can hear the Balakirev tambourines and Borodin-like lilt! There are many memorable melodies and exotic harmonies, as we would expect from an admirer of the "Mighty Handful."



The Horn Concerto, played by Richard Watkins, is very fine, indeed. He has a light beautiful tone and the light technical facility we associate with the British school of horn playing, a la Dennis Brain. One might desire much more dynamic contrast, emotional expression, and full-blooded Russian sound, however, which Watkins does not provide. Also, his runs can be very sloppy (not all notes in the run appear clearly and beautifully). There are several noticeable fudged notes, also. Overall, Watkins gives a fine performance of a Romantic Russian horn warhorse.



I recommend this CD, though it is very expensive. You can certainly do better with the Horn Concerto (I have not listened to the Marie Luise Neunecker or Hermann Baumann recordings, but they are widely recognized as the best), but "The Bronze Horseman" is neat music which may not otherwise be available."

Gliere at his finest...

10/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rheinhold Gliere was not your typical late 19th early 20th century composer, he was a neo-romanticist, and he shows that perfectly in the Bronze Horseman Suite and the Horn Concerto. The Philharmonia Orchestra in this recording of a piece not found on many recordings, gives an exciting reading throughout. The brass section particularly sounds robust and to the front of the ensemble. Being a horn player, I can never turn down another recording of the Gliere Concerto, and this one definitely does not dissappoint. Richard Watkins is at his best here, Singing the beautiful phrases and using his technical mastery to astound and amaze. Many horn players shy from this piece for reasons of endurance, so hearing a recorded version is quite better than a live performance as far as fewer missed notes. If you do not own a recording of this concerto, buy this one, and then get the Hermann Baumann recording and compare two great artists!"

A dark horse in the repertoire

slinkygn | Denton, TX USA | 08/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Bronze Horseman Suite is a joy to listen to, and will be nearly as satisfying for hornists to listen to as the concerto.



And that is saying a tremendous amount. I have long believed that the reason Baumann's recording of the Gliere concerto is considered the best is because too few people have heard this one. The Baumann recording is amazing -- but really, you owe it to yourself to hear this one and make up your own mind."