Does sound matter?

 

I tend not to listen to historical recordings.

I am not against older, monaural recordings; it is simply I have a more pleasant time with stereo performances.

As you can see from the dates on the cover of this recording, 1953-54 is pre-stereo. Yes, it is boxy sounding, but certainly not the worst; the sound is acceptably clear with the soloist easily perceptible to the listener.

Usually, historical recordings only hang around due to their formidable performances. In this case, it is horn player Dennis Brain which calls listeners. His playing is characterful, bandying high spirits alongside lyrical lines. Brain's horn is plenty to the front on this recording, even when he subtly touches the longer-held notes, a wonderful choice from the player.

Here, Herbert von Karajan is leading the Phiharmonia Orchestra, and I like his way with Mozart. He is not leaden with the tempos, nor does Karajan shy away from using the force of a full symphony orchestra; a rarity these days. So we get Mozart with charm and sweet sensitivity, but also with no lack of emotional commitment or shallow playing.

The sound is definitely bright in the strings. Also, it is hard to hear any wind doublings over the string sections, especially in the first two concertos, where Mozart scores for winds rather sparingly. Obviously, the bass is thin too, yet I like how finely etched the basses are when scrambling around in Horn Concerto no. 4.

With the various EMI series' - Great Recordings of the Century, Great Classical Recordings, and the EMI Masters series, Mozart's Piano Quintet with Winds is included. I believe you can still find Brain's horn concertos separate still, but a little extra music never hurt. All of the covers I have included feature the same EMI remastering from the mid-90s.

I like the close wind placement in K. 452, although the tone of the piano is not great. Some take issue with Leonard Brain's less than sweet oboe tone, but I don't find much in it. I do however, love the sound of Waters' clarinet, and so too when Mozart scores for clarinets in Horn Concerto no. 3.

So, where to stand on this recording? If you want to hear Dennis Brain's command of the horn in Mozart, this is the place to hear it. Historically speaking, this recording is the genesis of the popularity of these horn concertos. I do like Brain's way with these concertos, giving each movement a personality.

The mono sound here is OK; otherwise, I am generally happy with other analog, stereo, and digital recordings to set beside this one. Since Mozart's four horn concertos are of rather short measure, they nicely fit together all on one CD with room for more.

If I want to hear Karajan's way with an orchestra in these Mozart concertos, I am happy to hear Gerd Seifert with the Berlin Philharmonic, that orchestra's long-time principal horn. Michael Thompson on Naxos has a lot of extra horn concertante goodies, even if he may not be the most ideal in the concertos.

The works themselves are not of great challenge to these soloists, but I find they can be under- or over-played by soloist, orchestra, or both. Charm and simplicity can be just as challenging as technical instrumental wizardry in other pieces, especially when some equate simplicity with emotionlessness. This is the difficulty, and blessing, of Mozart.

 

Listen on YouTube

 

 

 

Works
Horn Concerto 1 in D Major (8.23)
Horn Concerto 2 in E-flat Major (13.48)
Horn Concerto 3 in E-flat Major (15.46)
Horn Concerto 4 in E-flat Major (16.03)
Piano Quintet in E-flat Major (23.01)

Soloists
Dennis Brain, horn

Performers
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble
    Leonard Brain, oboe
    Stephen Waters, clarinet
    Cecil James, bassoon
    Dennis Brain, horn
    Colin Horsley, piano

Label: EMI / Warner
Year: 1953-54; 1997; 2012
Total Timing: 77.26

 

 

 

If this recording of Mozart's horn concertos were recorded in stereo, it would unequivocally be a top choice.

As it is, this is in mono, which reduces the impact of Dennis Brain and Karajan in this music for some listeners.

Still, I hold on to this recording and revisit it from time to time. All the same, I can enjoy others in better sound too.

That is why they call me Even Steven!

 

 

 

Find more Mozart recordings HERE!