R. Strauss: Horn Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Duet Concertino / Serenade for Wind ~ Pyatt [Import]

Richard Strauss (Composer), Nicholas Cleobury (Conductor), Britten Sinfonietta (Performer), David Pyatt (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Britten Sinfonietta, David Pyatt
• Conductor: Nicholas Cleobury
• Composer: Richard Strauss
• Audio CD (June 4, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Classics for Pleasure
• ASIN: B000026C6C
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,826 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I. Allegro

2. II. Andante

3. III. Allegro

4. I. Allegro Moderato

5. II. Andante

6. III. Rondo. Allegro Ma Non Troppo

7. Serenade in E Flat, Op.7 For Wind Instruments Horn Concerto No.2 in E Flat

8. I. Allegro

9. II. Andante Con Moto

10. III. Rondo. Allegro Molto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rousing flourish from a wonderful young artist, December 31, 2005

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: R. Strauss: Horn Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Duet Concertino / Serenade for Wind ~ Pyatt (Audio CD)

David Pyatt has been hailed as successor to the sainted Dennis Brain. He won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Award in 1988 when he was only 14--the youngest recipient ever--and made this totally accomplished recording of the two Strauss horn concertos in 1994, just out of his teens. The comparison to Brain isn't frivolous. It would be hard to imagine a more lyrical player; like Brain, Pyatt can make the French horn sound like a true woodwind. He has a meltingly lovely tone, on the feminine side, again like Brain, favoring supplenesss over power.

The British have a proud heritage of horn virtuosos (Brain, Alan Civil, Barry Tuckwell) for Pyatt to join. This CD was widely admired in the UK, though I htink it went unnoticed in the U.S. Besides the two concertos, it includes Strauss's early Serenade in E-flat and a really lovely rendition of his last orchstral work, the Duet-Concertino for clarinet and bassoon from 1947 (the horn doesn't play here). Nicholas Cleobury conducts expertly, and it's nice to hear these works accompanied by a chamber ensemble (the Britten Sinfonietta), which puts the horn in more comfortable balance than a full orchestra.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pyatt's Strauss, January 19, 2008

By 

Joseph Ryan (Islamabad, Pakistan) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: R. Strauss: Horn Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Duet Concertino / Serenade for Wind ~ Pyatt (Audio CD)

Fabulous. Buttery, resonant sound leavened at appropriate moments by gleaming artillery shots. Very rapid technique with unbelievably mature interpretations.

Strauss 1 may be heard by walking by any high school bandroom on a Saturday morning. Unfortunately, it needs expert care. Pyatt's recording breathes life into a piece that has fallen victim to too much hackneyed student playing (including my own) and to ill-considered, usually bombastic professional renditions.

Strauss 2 is a different problem. Typical of Strauss's late, humanistic lyricism, it has its own built-in maturity, which only a few recordings since Brain's have captured. John Cerminaro's live performance is of course an important document, but Pyatt's could turn out to be your favorite.

This CD also has some of Strauss's chamber music that is can't-miss stuff.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Strauss performance., June 8, 2008

By 

Lyle E. Riley "good listener" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: R. Strauss: Horn Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Duet Concertino / Serenade for Wind ~ Pyatt (Audio CD)

This is a remarkably good recording of a Strauss work which shows his lyrical, romantic style at its best. Excellent sound.