Mozart - Horn Concertos ~ Rondeau K. 371, Rondo K. 514 [Import]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Nicholas McGegan (Conductor), Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra), Lowell Greer (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Lowell Greer
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
• Conductor: Nicholas McGegan
• Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Audio CD (October 26, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B0000007CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #408,736 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rondo for horn & orchestra in E flat major (fragment), K. 371

2. Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412/514 (K. 386b): Allegro

3. Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412/514 (K. 386b): Rondò (Allegro)

4. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417: Allegro maestoso

5. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417: Andante

6. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417: Rondo

7. Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412/514 (K. 386b): Rondo

8. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447: Allegro

9. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447: Romance, Larghetto

10. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447: Allegro

11. Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495: Allegro moderato

12. Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495: Romanza, Andante

13. Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495: Rondo, Allegro vivace

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the review in 'Gramophone', January 3, 2008

By 

Record Collector (Mons, Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mozart - Horn Concertos ~ Rondeau K. 371, Rondo K. 514 (Audio CD)

"This disc offers a slightly different selection of music from the Nimbus one by Anthony Halstead cited above. Both give the three concertos that survive in fully authentic form, of course; to these Halstead adds the D major work, with its second movement (surviving only as a fullish sketch) completed, and the E major fragment of a first movement, while Lowell Greer gives the D major in the standard version (the second movement completed and expanded by Sussmayr) plus a different completion of the Mozart original and a reconstruction of the E flat Rondo, K371. There are a few things that aren't quite convincing about Greer's own reconstruction of the Rondo (some of the problems set by Mozart are of a kind that only he knew the answer to!), but it is a lively piece and worth hearing. On the other hand, it seems to me quite unnecessary to waste space on the poorish, sometimes quite clumsy Sussmayr completion when a more authentic version is given too.

"Still, it is on the playing that the choice between these two discs turns; and the excellence of both makes it difficult. The American orchestra on the new disc provide a brighter, sharper sound than the Hanover Band, and their playing is very alert. Greer is a highly accomplished player of the natural horn; some may prefer his rather more forthright and well-defined sound to Halstead's somewhat softer, rounder tone--I enjoy both and would not care to recommend one above the other. I find Greer's playing very musicianly: unusually graceful in the phrasing of the quick movements, with gentle, thoughtful playing in K417 and some lovely smooth and clear lines in K495, while the slow movements are all beautifully done--the Romance of K447 refined and graceful, that of K495 often truly poetic with happy details of timing. And there is no shortage of wit in the finales, or of high spirits. Greer improvises his cadenzas: in the first movement of K495 he does, rightly I think, simply a longish flourish, with no reference to the themes of the movement. In the final resort, Greer's delicate handling of the slow movements and the flaws in the Nimbus recording, with its clangy continuo, incline me towards the new disc, but I could be very happy with either."

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes, but..., July 5, 2009

By 

Timothy R. Carpenter "kplmeister" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mozart - Horn Concertos ~ Rondeau K. 371, Rondo K. 514 (Audio CD)

The previous reviewer makes many good points. Greer and Halstead are both excellent musicians. Greer's idea of how these should go matches mine, but his sliding into notes (often) and watery tone (sometimes) impair my enjoyment. On the other hand, Halstead is spot on, but a bit mechanical sounding. The Hanover Band is quite rough around the edges and the continuo - to me - sounds like what I imagine the ancient water torture felt like: the constant plunk, plunk, plunk of the harpsichord is maddening. The 'cello plays the bass line, the double bass plays an octave below and the harpsichord sounds as though there is a 4' sounding a octave above. I gave that recording away and bought Halstead and Hogwood on Decca. Very nice, and my first recommendation for these concertos played on natural horn.