Track Listing

1. Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412/514 (K. 386b): I: Allegro
2. Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412/514 (K. 386b): II: Rondo (Allegro) (K 514)
3. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417: I: Allegro maestoso
4. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417: II: Andante
5. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417: III: Rondo
6. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447: I: Allegro
7. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447: II: Romance (Larghetto)
8. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447: III: Allegro
9. Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495: I: Allegro moderato
10. Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495: II: Romance (Andante)
11. Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495: III: Rondo (Allegro vivace)
12. Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon in E flat major, K. 452: I: Largo - Allegro moderato
13. Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon in E flat major, K. 452: II: Larghetto
14. Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon in E flat major, K. 452: III: Rondo (Allegro)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33231 in Music
• Released on: 2006-01-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Customer Reviews

A sweet-sounding remastering of these classics
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.

Dennis Brain...too long gone, but left us this blessing to remember him by!
As a horn player in high school, we were often asked to play from the Mozart Horn Concertos for State solo and Ensemble contest. Oh, the beautiful tones, clear crisp sounds heard from Dennis Brain are the best I've ever heard! It is unfortunate that this man's talents were removed from the world far too early; this recording, though done long before current stereophonic sound, is awesome and certainly should be first and foremost in all collections of those who feel they want the best of the best in a french horn player. RIP, my friend!

It doesn't get any better!
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!