Wynton Marsalis: The London Concert

Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Leopold Mozart (Conductor), Johann Friedrich Fasch (Performer), Johann Nepomuk Hummel (Artist), Raymond Leppard (Artist), Wynton Marsalis (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Johann Friedrich Fasch
• Conductor: Leopold Mozart
• Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
• Audio CD (November 8, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000029CS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,922 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The London Concert:SACD Wynton Marsalis, May 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The London Concert [SACD] (Audio CD)

Marsalis plays the best trumpet I have ever heard. The recording is the finest example of what SACD can do. I found myself marveling at the sound and the playing of Marsalis. Have been listening to classical music for 50 years and this was the best recording of (1)the orchestra, (2)the concert hall and (3)the trumpet. I cannot recall ever being as impressed, except by the live music in Boston's Symphony Hall or Jordan Hall. I have this recording done originally in the 90's and love it, but this re-recording onto SACD is astounding.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not recommended........try his 1987 recording with Leppard, November 27, 1998

By 

Timothy Rausenberger (Haskell, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wynton Marsalis: The London Concert (Audio CD)

With this recording of his London Concert in 1994, Wynton Marsalis has again released similar selections as performed with conductor Raymond Leppard in 1987. In those seven years, the versatile Marsalis geared more towards his jazz playing instead of his classical. For whatever reason, this shift seems to have greatly affected the brilliant trumpet tone he possessed on the 1987 album. While Marsalis still has his unquestioned technical virtuosity, he has, at times, a very airy and spread sound.

In the London Concert, two cornerstones of the trumpet repertoire are included: The Haydn and the Hummel Concerti. The playing on both is very forward, almost too much so at times; this is likely the result of an improperly placed microphone. The cadenzas are fantastic on both, and different than the ones he chose in his 1987 recording. It is unclear whether Marsalis or Leppard chose to make far more ornaments than normally heard on the Haydn, but whatever the case, they are overdone and sound entirely inappropriate in many key areas of the piece. In addition, Marsalis has a new fascination with taking many of the original notes up the octave, which sounds utterly gross and tacky.

The best move in this case is to go for the 1987 recording with the Marsalis who sticks more to the ink on the page, while retaining the same technical virtuosity we have admired over the years. An even BETTER move would be Maurice Andre's "Best of Maurice" EMI 4-CD recording which contains all of the works on the London Concert.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most amazing trumpet, November 1, 2001

By 

Porter Crane (Wokingham, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wynton Marsalis: The London Concert (Audio CD)

Prehaps my fellow reviewer is right and this may not be the most technically correct rendition of Haydn. However, to a non-musician, this album is just staggeringly good. Wynton's trumpet playing soars. I know that classical music is about blending and pacing, but I like the element of jazz that has crept in. He is solo-ing to an orchestral accompaniment. It takes my breath away to listen to those clear, pure notes reinterpreting music I have heard all my life. I do love his jazz, but I will never, ever get rid of my classical Marsalis CDs.