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the four. The orchestral writing is both richer and had adopted and expanded the revolutionary new elegance and an infectious wit. The orchestra and shy, modest of his remarkable talents, and with a darker with the use of clarinets and bassoons. The technique of hand-stopping that entailed the use of Karajan’s accompaniment may seem rather plush and boyish sense of humour: who else would have solo part in the slow movement bears a striking inserting the right hand into the bell of the display a somewhat romantic style to today’s ears but played part of a concerto at a MOZART similarity to a 1795 Romance for horn and string instrument to alter and increase the number of notes that was deemed essentially Mozartian in manner. Hoffnung Festival concerto on a garden hosepipe? quartet by Michael Haydn. The finale is a lively then available thereby making the horn a properly Originally played on a French At the time of his death he had taken up conducting, gallop, full of hunting calls and the chase and its melodic instrument. Raoux-Millereau instrument, a twin of his father’s, and it is fascinating to surmise what he might have The Four Horn Concertos hazards. In the case of these Mozart concertos, Dennis but in 1951 he changed to a German Alexander achieved. K. 495 was composed in Vienna and completed Brain was the first soloist to record all four, although model in order to achieve a more robust sound. It is Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments on 26th June 1786. This is Mozart’s second concerto he had earlier recorded Nos. 2 and 4. It is interesting this instrument that Brain used in the Mozart Malcolm Walker for Leutgeb for whom Mozart wrote his autograph to place the recording of these Mozart concertos in concertos. As a person he was humble, somewhat IS B score in four different colours of ink: it was not a relation to Brain’s other work at the time. He had NN RAI joke but an indication for the soloist in the matter of played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under DE N dynamics and colouristic inflection. Unusually the Beecham on the 1st and 4th November in London, first movement exists in three different versions, the followed by two days to record concertos No. 1 to 3 one here being the standard 1802 published edition. on the 11th and 12th, another RPO concert on the This is the most demanding of these concertos with a 15th. There were then two days of sessions with grand first movement, contrasted with a gentle Karajan and the Philharmonia to record the Mozart slower and restrained one which becomes more K. 297b on the 17th and 18th, agitated and passionate. The finale is one of followed by a performance of K. 495 under Paul Mozart’s best, a hunting rondo in wonderfully Sacher and the RPO on the evening of 18th. Then unbuttoned manner. came a concert with Karajan on the 20th November, The Quintet for , clarinet, horn, bassoon another concerto with the Hallé Orchestra under and piano in E flat, K. 452, was composed in Vienna Barbirolli in Bradford on the 21st, followed by a before 21st March 1784 when it was to have been BBC live broadcast of Delius’s opera Irmelin on the given its first performance in the Burgtheater on that 22nd, and a recording of the fourth Mozart Concerto Mark Obert-Thorn date. However this event was postponed until 1st under Karajan on the 23rd. This was succeeded by a April. Mozart was decidedly happy with the finished recording of the Gounod Petite symphonie for Karl Mark Obert-Thorn is one of the world’s most respected transfer artist/engineers. He has worked for a number of 1 work, commenting to his father Leopold: “I myself Haas and the London Baroque Ensemble on the 24th, specialist labels, including Pearl, Biddulph, Romophone and Music & Arts. Three of his transfers have been 95 gs 3-1 rdin consider it to be the best work I have ever rounded off by his second recording of Britten’s nominated for Gramophone Awards. A pianist by training, his passions are music, history and working on projects. 955 Reco composed”. Beginning with a slow introduction, the Serenade with but conducted by Eugene He has found a way to combine all three in the transfer of historical recordings. opening movement then moves into a vibrant Goossens, between the 25th and 27th. Obert-Thorn describes himself as a ‘moderate interventionist’ rather than a ‘purist’ or ‘re-processor,’ unlike Allegro. There is a contrasting slow movement, What was so special about Brain’s playing? He those who apply significant additions and make major changes to the acoustical qualities of old recordings. His before the work concludes with a lively Allegretto. displayed an astonishing mastery of the whole range philosophy is that a good transfer should not call attention to itself, but rather allow the performances to be heard The concertos were written for the Austrian horn of the instrument. He also played with remarkable with the greatest clarity. • player (c.1745-1811). He hailed delicacy of execution in rapid staccato passages, There is no over-reverberant ‘cathedral sound’ in an Obert-Thorn restoration, nor is there the tinny bass and from Salzburg and became first horn in the Salzburg allied to innate subtlety of phrasing. Note the wit and piercing mid-range of many ‘authorised’ commercial issues. He works with the cleanest available 78s, and • Philharmonia Wind Ensemble court orchestra in 1770. He later visited Paris before crispness of the Rondo to K. 417, the gossamer gleam consistently achieves better results than restoration engineers working with the metal parts from the archives of the settling in Vienna where he also ran a and effortlessness of the first movement of K. 495, modern corporate owners of the original recordings. His transfers preserve the original tone of the old recordings, cheesemonger’s shop. He remained on friendly the glowing warmth of the Romanza of K. 447 swiftly maximising the details in critical upper mid-range and lower frequencies to achieve a musical integrity that is terms with Mozart until the latter’s death in 1791 followed by the tongue in cheek nature of the ensuing absent from many other commercially released restorations. and retired from playing the following year. Leutgeb Rondo. In all four works there is a smile, buoyancy, 8.111070 5 8.111070 6 111070 bk BrainMozart EU 26-10-2006 8:51 Pagina 2

Great Horn Players: Dennis Brain (1921-1957) Great Horn Players orchestral players and soloists. Fortunately Brain the conductors under whom he played included Mozart: The Four Horn Concertos • Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments was able to take part in a variety of ad hoc virtually all the great names of the time. Wolfgang orchestras, for example, the London Wind Players No less significantly, Brain’s reputation and Although it is now nearly half a century since left a rare (sadly made rather too late) recording of under Harry Blech, the orchestra which played at achievements resulted in an expansion of new MOZART Dennis Brain died at the early age of 36 on 1st the Haydn Concerto No. 2 in D (made in 1950) that ’s National Gallery concerts, the National works. These covered concerti by Arnold, York (1756-1791) September 1957, killed at the wheel of his car while at times illustrates his fine technique. Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearing as a Bowen, Fricker, Hindemith, Jacob and Lutyens, as on an overnight journey home from a concert at the Dennis Brain was born in London on 17th May soloist throughout Britain and making a number of well as Britten’s Serenade and the Second Canticle, Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412 8:16 Edinburgh Festival, his reputation has never dimmed 1921. He was educated at St Paul’s School in recordings. He took part in the first performance of both for tenor and horn. Such was the admiration for 1 Allegro 4:38 during the ensuing years, so much so that he has where he studied piano and organ. Britten’s Serenade for tenor, horn and strings in Brain’s playing that Poulenc wrote an Elégie as a 2 Rondo 3:38 become a legend. His famous 1953 recording of the Although his father allowed his young son to play a October 1943, a work he would subsequently record posthumous tribute. four Mozart concertos continues to be the yardstick few notes on Saturday mornings as a treat, he was twice commercially. He took part in a number of The Allegro of K. 412, completed by a Rondo K. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417 13:44 by which all subsequent versions are measured. adamant that students should not take up the sessions with the National Symphony Orchestra for 514 (386b), emanates from Vienna in 1791. For 3 Allegro maestoso 6:37 Broadcast and live performances continue to be instrument in a serious manner until they had the Decca Record Company who were recording many years it was deemed as the composer’s first 4 Andante 3:32 discovered so that his name remains before today’s reached their teenage years when the teeth and the experimentally with what became later known as the venture into a horn concerto. This came about as a 5 Rondo 3:35 public in a most positive manner. mouth embouchure were fully developed. At the age FFRR system. result of a misreading of the year 1797 for 1787. It This family was steeped in horn playing. of sixteen he left school having won a scholarship in At the end of 1944 the Central Band and the was in fact the fourth to be composed. Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447 15:53 Dennis’s grandfather Alfred senior (1860-1925) was open competition, which enabled him to go to the Symphony Orchestra of the RAF made a two week drafted both movements but the composer changed 6 Allegro 7:03 in his time a distinguished horn player, but his father . Dennis studied the piano ‘good will’ American tour during which time Brain some of the solo writing when completing his draft. 7 Romance (Larghetto) 4:55 Aubrey (1893-1955) became the most celebrated with Max Pirani and organ with G. D. Cunningham met with his uncle Alfred. It was during this tour that The Rondo was completed by Süssmayr in a version 8 Allegro 3:45 British exponent of the instrument. After studying in addition to the horn with his father. Such was his he received an offer from conductor Eugene dated 6th April 1792. His score differs from the with Adolf Bordsdorf at the , progress that he made his professional début Ormandy to join the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mozart version with changed string writing and the Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495 16:05 Aubrey joined the New Symphony Orchestra as first alongside his father in the Bach Brandenburg With the end of World War II and his return to deletion of low notes for the horn, as well as the 9 Allegro moderato 8:03 horn in 1912. He later became a principal of the Concerto No. 1 as a member of the Busch Chamber civilian life Dennis Brain found himself back in the introduction of the Lamentations of Jeremiah 0 Romance (Andante) 4:28 newly formed BBC Symphony Orchestra under Orchestra on 6th October 1938. The event caused swim of musical life in Britain. (normally sung at the Good Friday service) which ! Rondo (Allegro vivace) 3:34 Boult in 1930, remaining until his premature much interest with favourable press comment. The engaged him as first horn of his newly formed resulted in an extension of the movement by six bars. retirement brought about by ill-health. He continued following month he took part in his first recording Philharmonia Orchestra, and the following year Süssmayr misread Mozart’s draft and omitted the Dennis Brain, horn • Philharmonia Orchestra • Herbert von Karajan to play until January 1953. He possessed a session with the same orchestra accompanying Beecham, when founding his Royal Philharmonic two bassoons in this movement. The work is scored remarkable command of the instrument with a Rudolf Serkin in Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 449. It Orchestra, gave him a similar position. He continued for two , two bassoons and strings. Recorded 12th, 13th and 23rd November, 1953 in , London wonderful quality of tone displaying a refined style. was another recording session in February 1939 to work for both orchestras until April 1954, before K. 417 was composed in Vienna and completed First issued on Columbia 33CX 1140 His solo recordings included two Mozart concertos when again he played alongside his father in playing almost exclusively with the Philharmonia in on 27th May 1783 according to the autograph score. (K417 and K477) and the Brahms Horn Trio with Mozart’s Divertimento in D K. 334 for two horns and the last three years of his life. Dennis himself formed This was the first concerto which was composed for Quintet in E flat major for Piano and Wind Instruments, K. 452 21:30 and Rudolf Serkin. Aubrey’s older string quartet with the distinguished Léner Quartet, his own in 1946 and was to be found the soloist Joseph Leutgeb. The first page of @ Largo; Allegro moderato 8:30 brother Alfred junior (1885-1966) was principal horn that brought his playing to the attention of the the length and breadth of Britain in recitals or Mozart’s score bears an inscription “Wolfgang # Larghetto 7:08 of the Queen’s Hall Orchestra for a number of years producer Walter Legge (1906-1979) who would play concerto engagements. He played in ’s Amadé Mozart has taken pity on Leutgeb, ass, ox, $ Rondo (Allegretto) 5:52 but then moved to the United States where he became a critical rôle during the years 1945-57. London Baroque Ensemble in concert and in a wide and fool, in Vienna on 27th May 1783”. The opening first horn of the New York Symphony Orchestra in With the outbreak of World War II Dennis Brain variety of recordings, notably the first-ever of movement is highly attractive and very demanding Walter Gieseking, piano • Philharmonia Wind Ensemble 1923, before moving to a similar post with the Los joined the Central Band of the ’s late period Symphony for wind for the soloist. The second is song-like in three (, oboe; , clarinet; Dennis Brain, horn; , bassoon) Angeles Philharmonic for fourteen years. He later which was based at Uxbridge. Later the RAF instruments, and the two Mozart Wind Serenades verses, followed by a witty, happy and cheeky rondo played in the studio orchestras of M-G-M and Symphony Orchestra was formed under Wing K375 and K388. His contribution to the vast number in hunting manner. Recorded 15th April, 1955 in EMI Abbey Road Studio No. 1, London Twentieth Century Fox. Alfred also served as Commander R. P. O’Donnell, a group which would of recordings made by both the Philharmonia and the K. 447 was composed in Vienna and is thought First issued on Columbia 33CX 1322 manager of the concerts at the . He in time contain many of the finest of the post-war RPO during the years 1946-1957 was enormous and to date from 1787. It is possibly the most mature of 8.111070 2 8.111070 3 8.111070 4 111070 bk BrainMozart EU 26-10-2006 8:51 Pagina 2

Great Horn Players: Dennis Brain (1921-1957) Great Horn Players orchestral players and soloists. Fortunately Brain the conductors under whom he played included Mozart: The Four Horn Concertos • Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments was able to take part in a variety of ad hoc virtually all the great names of the time. Wolfgang Amadeus orchestras, for example, the London Wind Players No less significantly, Brain’s reputation and Although it is now nearly half a century since left a rare (sadly made rather too late) recording of under Harry Blech, the orchestra which played at achievements resulted in an expansion of new MOZART Dennis Brain died at the early age of 36 on 1st the Haydn Concerto No. 2 in D (made in 1950) that Myra Hess’s National Gallery concerts, the National works. These covered concerti by Arnold, York (1756-1791) September 1957, killed at the wheel of his car while at times illustrates his fine technique. Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearing as a Bowen, Fricker, Hindemith, Jacob and Lutyens, as on an overnight journey home from a concert at the Dennis Brain was born in London on 17th May soloist throughout Britain and making a number of well as Britten’s Serenade and the Second Canticle, Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412 8:16 Edinburgh Festival, his reputation has never dimmed 1921. He was educated at St Paul’s School in recordings. He took part in the first performance of both for tenor and horn. Such was the admiration for 1 Allegro 4:38 during the ensuing years, so much so that he has Hammersmith where he studied piano and organ. Britten’s Serenade for tenor, horn and strings in Brain’s playing that Poulenc wrote an Elégie as a 2 Rondo 3:38 become a legend. His famous 1953 recording of the Although his father allowed his young son to play a October 1943, a work he would subsequently record posthumous tribute. four Mozart concertos continues to be the yardstick few notes on Saturday mornings as a treat, he was twice commercially. He took part in a number of The Allegro of K. 412, completed by a Rondo K. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417 13:44 by which all subsequent versions are measured. adamant that students should not take up the sessions with the National Symphony Orchestra for 514 (386b), emanates from Vienna in 1791. For 3 Allegro maestoso 6:37 Broadcast and live performances continue to be instrument in a serious manner until they had the Decca Record Company who were recording many years it was deemed as the composer’s first 4 Andante 3:32 discovered so that his name remains before today’s reached their teenage years when the teeth and the experimentally with what became later known as the venture into a horn concerto. This came about as a 5 Rondo 3:35 public in a most positive manner. mouth embouchure were fully developed. At the age FFRR system. result of a misreading of the year 1797 for 1787. It This family was steeped in horn playing. of sixteen he left school having won a scholarship in At the end of 1944 the Central Band and the was in fact the fourth to be composed. Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447 15:53 Dennis’s grandfather Alfred senior (1860-1925) was open competition, which enabled him to go to the Symphony Orchestra of the RAF made a two week drafted both movements but the composer changed 6 Allegro 7:03 in his time a distinguished horn player, but his father Royal Academy of Music. Dennis studied the piano ‘good will’ American tour during which time Brain some of the solo writing when completing his draft. 7 Romance (Larghetto) 4:55 Aubrey (1893-1955) became the most celebrated with Max Pirani and organ with G. D. Cunningham met with his uncle Alfred. It was during this tour that The Rondo was completed by Süssmayr in a version 8 Allegro 3:45 British exponent of the instrument. After studying in addition to the horn with his father. Such was his he received an offer from conductor Eugene dated 6th April 1792. His score differs from the with Adolf Bordsdorf at the Royal College of Music, progress that he made his professional début Ormandy to join the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mozart version with changed string writing and the Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495 16:05 Aubrey joined the New Symphony Orchestra as first alongside his father in the Bach Brandenburg With the end of World War II and his return to deletion of low notes for the horn, as well as the 9 Allegro moderato 8:03 horn in 1912. He later became a principal of the Concerto No. 1 as a member of the Busch Chamber civilian life Dennis Brain found himself back in the introduction of the Lamentations of Jeremiah 0 Romance (Andante) 4:28 newly formed BBC Symphony Orchestra under Orchestra on 6th October 1938. The event caused swim of musical life in Britain. Walter Legge (normally sung at the Good Friday service) which ! Rondo (Allegro vivace) 3:34 Boult in 1930, remaining until his premature much interest with favourable press comment. The engaged him as first horn of his newly formed resulted in an extension of the movement by six bars. retirement brought about by ill-health. He continued following month he took part in his first recording Philharmonia Orchestra, and the following year Süssmayr misread Mozart’s draft and omitted the Dennis Brain, horn • Philharmonia Orchestra • Herbert von Karajan to play until January 1953. He possessed a session with the same orchestra accompanying Beecham, when founding his Royal Philharmonic two bassoons in this movement. The work is scored remarkable command of the instrument with a Rudolf Serkin in Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 449. It Orchestra, gave him a similar position. He continued for two oboes, two bassoons and strings. Recorded 12th, 13th and 23rd November, 1953 in Kingsway Hall, London wonderful quality of tone displaying a refined style. was another recording session in February 1939 to work for both orchestras until April 1954, before K. 417 was composed in Vienna and completed First issued on Columbia 33CX 1140 His solo recordings included two Mozart concertos when again he played alongside his father in playing almost exclusively with the Philharmonia in on 27th May 1783 according to the autograph score. (K417 and K477) and the Brahms Horn Trio with Mozart’s Divertimento in D K. 334 for two horns and the last three years of his life. Dennis himself formed This was the first concerto which was composed for Quintet in E flat major for Piano and Wind Instruments, K. 452 21:30 Adolf Busch and Rudolf Serkin. Aubrey’s older string quartet with the distinguished Léner Quartet, his own wind quintet in 1946 and was to be found the soloist Joseph Leutgeb. The first page of @ Largo; Allegro moderato 8:30 brother Alfred junior (1885-1966) was principal horn that brought his playing to the attention of the the length and breadth of Britain in recitals or Mozart’s score bears an inscription “Wolfgang # Larghetto 7:08 of the Queen’s Hall Orchestra for a number of years producer Walter Legge (1906-1979) who would play concerto engagements. He played in Karl Haas’s Amadé Mozart has taken pity on Leutgeb, ass, ox, $ Rondo (Allegretto) 5:52 but then moved to the United States where he became a critical rôle during the years 1945-57. London Baroque Ensemble in concert and in a wide and fool, in Vienna on 27th May 1783”. The opening first horn of the New York Symphony Orchestra in With the outbreak of World War II Dennis Brain variety of recordings, notably the first-ever of movement is highly attractive and very demanding Walter Gieseking, piano • Philharmonia Wind Ensemble 1923, before moving to a similar post with the Los joined the Central Band of the Royal Air Force Richard Strauss’s late period Symphony for wind for the soloist. The second is song-like in three (Sidney Sutcliffe, oboe; Bernard Walton, clarinet; Dennis Brain, horn; Cecil James, bassoon) Angeles Philharmonic for fourteen years. He later which was based at Uxbridge. Later the RAF instruments, and the two Mozart Wind Serenades verses, followed by a witty, happy and cheeky rondo played in the studio orchestras of M-G-M and Symphony Orchestra was formed under Wing K375 and K388. His contribution to the vast number in hunting manner. Recorded 15th April, 1955 in EMI Abbey Road Studio No. 1, London Twentieth Century Fox. Alfred also served as Commander R. P. O’Donnell, a group which would of recordings made by both the Philharmonia and the K. 447 was composed in Vienna and is thought First issued on Columbia 33CX 1322 manager of the concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. He in time contain many of the finest of the post-war RPO during the years 1946-1957 was enormous and to date from 1787. It is possibly the most mature of 8.111070 2 8.111070 3 8.111070 4 111070 bk BrainMozart EU 26-10-2006 8:51 Pagina 2

Great Horn Players: Dennis Brain (1921-1957) Great Horn Players orchestral players and soloists. Fortunately Brain the conductors under whom he played included Mozart: The Four Horn Concertos • Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments was able to take part in a variety of ad hoc virtually all the great names of the time. Wolfgang Amadeus orchestras, for example, the London Wind Players No less significantly, Brain’s reputation and Although it is now nearly half a century since left a rare (sadly made rather too late) recording of under Harry Blech, the orchestra which played at achievements resulted in an expansion of new MOZART Dennis Brain died at the early age of 36 on 1st the Haydn Concerto No. 2 in D (made in 1950) that Myra Hess’s National Gallery concerts, the National works. These covered concerti by Arnold, York (1756-1791) September 1957, killed at the wheel of his car while at times illustrates his fine technique. Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearing as a Bowen, Fricker, Hindemith, Jacob and Lutyens, as on an overnight journey home from a concert at the Dennis Brain was born in London on 17th May soloist throughout Britain and making a number of well as Britten’s Serenade and the Second Canticle, Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412 8:16 Edinburgh Festival, his reputation has never dimmed 1921. He was educated at St Paul’s School in recordings. He took part in the first performance of both for tenor and horn. Such was the admiration for 1 Allegro 4:38 during the ensuing years, so much so that he has Hammersmith where he studied piano and organ. Britten’s Serenade for tenor, horn and strings in Brain’s playing that Poulenc wrote an Elégie as a 2 Rondo 3:38 become a legend. His famous 1953 recording of the Although his father allowed his young son to play a October 1943, a work he would subsequently record posthumous tribute. four Mozart concertos continues to be the yardstick few notes on Saturday mornings as a treat, he was twice commercially. He took part in a number of The Allegro of K. 412, completed by a Rondo K. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417 13:44 by which all subsequent versions are measured. adamant that students should not take up the sessions with the National Symphony Orchestra for 514 (386b), emanates from Vienna in 1791. For 3 Allegro maestoso 6:37 Broadcast and live performances continue to be instrument in a serious manner until they had the Decca Record Company who were recording many years it was deemed as the composer’s first 4 Andante 3:32 discovered so that his name remains before today’s reached their teenage years when the teeth and the experimentally with what became later known as the venture into a horn concerto. This came about as a 5 Rondo 3:35 public in a most positive manner. mouth embouchure were fully developed. At the age FFRR system. result of a misreading of the year 1797 for 1787. It This family was steeped in horn playing. of sixteen he left school having won a scholarship in At the end of 1944 the Central Band and the was in fact the fourth to be composed. Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447 15:53 Dennis’s grandfather Alfred senior (1860-1925) was open competition, which enabled him to go to the Symphony Orchestra of the RAF made a two week drafted both movements but the composer changed 6 Allegro 7:03 in his time a distinguished horn player, but his father Royal Academy of Music. Dennis studied the piano ‘good will’ American tour during which time Brain some of the solo writing when completing his draft. 7 Romance (Larghetto) 4:55 Aubrey (1893-1955) became the most celebrated with Max Pirani and organ with G. D. Cunningham met with his uncle Alfred. It was during this tour that The Rondo was completed by Süssmayr in a version 8 Allegro 3:45 British exponent of the instrument. After studying in addition to the horn with his father. Such was his he received an offer from conductor Eugene dated 6th April 1792. His score differs from the with Adolf Bordsdorf at the Royal College of Music, progress that he made his professional début Ormandy to join the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mozart version with changed string writing and the Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495 16:05 Aubrey joined the New Symphony Orchestra as first alongside his father in the Bach Brandenburg With the end of World War II and his return to deletion of low notes for the horn, as well as the 9 Allegro moderato 8:03 horn in 1912. He later became a principal of the Concerto No. 1 as a member of the Busch Chamber civilian life Dennis Brain found himself back in the introduction of the Lamentations of Jeremiah 0 Romance (Andante) 4:28 newly formed BBC Symphony Orchestra under Orchestra on 6th October 1938. The event caused swim of musical life in Britain. Walter Legge (normally sung at the Good Friday service) which ! Rondo (Allegro vivace) 3:34 Boult in 1930, remaining until his premature much interest with favourable press comment. The engaged him as first horn of his newly formed resulted in an extension of the movement by six bars. retirement brought about by ill-health. He continued following month he took part in his first recording Philharmonia Orchestra, and the following year Süssmayr misread Mozart’s draft and omitted the Dennis Brain, horn • Philharmonia Orchestra • Herbert von Karajan to play until January 1953. He possessed a session with the same orchestra accompanying Beecham, when founding his Royal Philharmonic two bassoons in this movement. The work is scored remarkable command of the instrument with a Rudolf Serkin in Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 449. It Orchestra, gave him a similar position. He continued for two oboes, two bassoons and strings. Recorded 12th, 13th and 23rd November, 1953 in Kingsway Hall, London wonderful quality of tone displaying a refined style. was another recording session in February 1939 to work for both orchestras until April 1954, before K. 417 was composed in Vienna and completed First issued on Columbia 33CX 1140 His solo recordings included two Mozart concertos when again he played alongside his father in playing almost exclusively with the Philharmonia in on 27th May 1783 according to the autograph score. (K417 and K477) and the Brahms Horn Trio with Mozart’s Divertimento in D K. 334 for two horns and the last three years of his life. Dennis himself formed This was the first concerto which was composed for Quintet in E flat major for Piano and Wind Instruments, K. 452 21:30 Adolf Busch and Rudolf Serkin. Aubrey’s older string quartet with the distinguished Léner Quartet, his own wind quintet in 1946 and was to be found the soloist Joseph Leutgeb. The first page of @ Largo; Allegro moderato 8:30 brother Alfred junior (1885-1966) was principal horn that brought his playing to the attention of the the length and breadth of Britain in recitals or Mozart’s score bears an inscription “Wolfgang # Larghetto 7:08 of the Queen’s Hall Orchestra for a number of years producer Walter Legge (1906-1979) who would play concerto engagements. He played in Karl Haas’s Amadé Mozart has taken pity on Leutgeb, ass, ox, $ Rondo (Allegretto) 5:52 but then moved to the United States where he became a critical rôle during the years 1945-57. London Baroque Ensemble in concert and in a wide and fool, in Vienna on 27th May 1783”. The opening first horn of the New York Symphony Orchestra in With the outbreak of World War II Dennis Brain variety of recordings, notably the first-ever of movement is highly attractive and very demanding Walter Gieseking, piano • Philharmonia Wind Ensemble 1923, before moving to a similar post with the Los joined the Central Band of the Royal Air Force Richard Strauss’s late period Symphony for wind for the soloist. The second is song-like in three (Sidney Sutcliffe, oboe; Bernard Walton, clarinet; Dennis Brain, horn; Cecil James, bassoon) Angeles Philharmonic for fourteen years. He later which was based at Uxbridge. Later the RAF instruments, and the two Mozart Wind Serenades verses, followed by a witty, happy and cheeky rondo played in the studio orchestras of M-G-M and Symphony Orchestra was formed under Wing K375 and K388. His contribution to the vast number in hunting manner. Recorded 15th April, 1955 in EMI Abbey Road Studio No. 1, London Twentieth Century Fox. Alfred also served as Commander R. P. O’Donnell, a group which would of recordings made by both the Philharmonia and the K. 447 was composed in Vienna and is thought First issued on Columbia 33CX 1322 manager of the concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. He in time contain many of the finest of the post-war RPO during the years 1946-1957 was enormous and to date from 1787. It is possibly the most mature of 8.111070 2 8.111070 3 8.111070 4 111070 bk BrainMozart EU 26-10-2006 8:51 Pagina 5

the four. The orchestral writing is both richer and had adopted and expanded the revolutionary new elegance and an infectious wit. The orchestra and shy, modest of his remarkable talents, and with a darker with the use of clarinets and bassoons. The technique of hand-stopping that entailed the use of Karajan’s accompaniment may seem rather plush and boyish sense of humour: who else would have solo part in the slow movement bears a striking inserting the right hand into the bell of the display a somewhat romantic style to today’s ears but played part of a Leopold Mozart concerto at a MOZART similarity to a 1795 Romance for horn and string instrument to alter and increase the number of notes that was deemed essentially Mozartian in manner. Hoffnung Festival concerto on a garden hosepipe? quartet by Michael Haydn. The finale is a lively then available thereby making the horn a properly Originally Dennis Brain played on a French At the time of his death he had taken up conducting, gallop, full of hunting calls and the chase and its melodic instrument. Raoux-Millereau instrument, a twin of his father’s, and it is fascinating to surmise what he might have The Four Horn Concertos hazards. In the case of these Mozart concertos, Dennis but in 1951 he changed to a German Alexander achieved. K. 495 was composed in Vienna and completed Brain was the first soloist to record all four, although model in order to achieve a more robust sound. It is Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments on 26th June 1786. This is Mozart’s second concerto he had earlier recorded Nos. 2 and 4. It is interesting this instrument that Brain used in the Mozart Malcolm Walker for Leutgeb for whom Mozart wrote his autograph to place the recording of these Mozart concertos in concertos. As a person he was humble, somewhat IS B score in four different colours of ink: it was not a relation to Brain’s other work at the time. He had NN RAI joke but an indication for the soloist in the matter of played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under DE N dynamics and colouristic inflection. Unusually the Beecham on the 1st and 4th November in London, first movement exists in three different versions, the followed by two days to record concertos No. 1 to 3 one here being the standard 1802 published edition. on the 11th and 12th, another RPO concert on the This is the most demanding of these concertos with a 15th. There were then two days of sessions with grand first movement, contrasted with a gentle Karajan and the Philharmonia to record the Mozart slower and restrained one which becomes more Sinfonia concertante K. 297b on the 17th and 18th, agitated and passionate. The finale is one of followed by a performance of K. 495 under Paul Mozart’s best, a hunting rondo in wonderfully Sacher and the RPO on the evening of 18th. Then unbuttoned manner. came a concert with Karajan on the 20th November, The Quintet for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon another concerto with the Hallé Orchestra under and piano in E flat, K. 452, was composed in Vienna Barbirolli in Bradford on the 21st, followed by a before 21st March 1784 when it was to have been BBC live broadcast of Delius’s opera Irmelin on the given its first performance in the Burgtheater on that 22nd, and a recording of the fourth Mozart Concerto Mark Obert-Thorn date. However this event was postponed until 1st under Karajan on the 23rd. This was succeeded by a April. Mozart was decidedly happy with the finished recording of the Gounod Petite symphonie for Karl Mark Obert-Thorn is one of the world’s most respected transfer artist/engineers. He has worked for a number of 1 work, commenting to his father Leopold: “I myself Haas and the London Baroque Ensemble on the 24th, specialist labels, including Pearl, Biddulph, Romophone and Music & Arts. Three of his transfers have been 95 gs 3-1 rdin consider it to be the best work I have ever rounded off by his second recording of Britten’s nominated for Gramophone Awards. A pianist by training, his passions are music, history and working on projects. 955 Reco composed”. Beginning with a slow introduction, the Serenade with Peter Pears but conducted by Eugene He has found a way to combine all three in the transfer of historical recordings. opening movement then moves into a vibrant Goossens, between the 25th and 27th. Obert-Thorn describes himself as a ‘moderate interventionist’ rather than a ‘purist’ or ‘re-processor,’ unlike Allegro. There is a contrasting slow movement, What was so special about Brain’s playing? He those who apply significant additions and make major changes to the acoustical qualities of old recordings. His before the work concludes with a lively Allegretto. displayed an astonishing mastery of the whole range philosophy is that a good transfer should not call attention to itself, but rather allow the performances to be heard The concertos were written for the Austrian horn of the instrument. He also played with remarkable with the greatest clarity. Philharmonia Orchestra • Herbert von Karajan player Joseph Leutgeb (c.1745-1811). He hailed delicacy of execution in rapid staccato passages, There is no over-reverberant ‘cathedral sound’ in an Obert-Thorn restoration, nor is there the tinny bass and from Salzburg and became first horn in the Salzburg allied to innate subtlety of phrasing. Note the wit and piercing mid-range of many ‘authorised’ commercial issues. He works with the cleanest available 78s, and Walter Gieseking • Philharmonia Wind Ensemble court orchestra in 1770. He later visited Paris before crispness of the Rondo to K. 417, the gossamer gleam consistently achieves better results than restoration engineers working with the metal parts from the archives of the settling in Vienna where he also ran a and effortlessness of the first movement of K. 495, modern corporate owners of the original recordings. His transfers preserve the original tone of the old recordings, cheesemonger’s shop. He remained on friendly the glowing warmth of the Romanza of K. 447 swiftly maximising the details in critical upper mid-range and lower frequencies to achieve a musical integrity that is terms with Mozart until the latter’s death in 1791 followed by the tongue in cheek nature of the ensuing absent from many other commercially released restorations. and retired from playing the following year. Leutgeb Rondo. In all four works there is a smile, buoyancy, 8.111070 5 8.111070 6 111070 bk BrainMozart EU 26-10-2006 8:51 Pagina 5

the four. The orchestral writing is both richer and had adopted and expanded the revolutionary new elegance and an infectious wit. The orchestra and shy, modest of his remarkable talents, and with a darker with the use of clarinets and bassoons. The technique of hand-stopping that entailed the use of Karajan’s accompaniment may seem rather plush and boyish sense of humour: who else would have solo part in the slow movement bears a striking inserting the right hand into the bell of the display a somewhat romantic style to today’s ears but played part of a Leopold Mozart concerto at a MOZART similarity to a 1795 Romance for horn and string instrument to alter and increase the number of notes that was deemed essentially Mozartian in manner. Hoffnung Festival concerto on a garden hosepipe? quartet by Michael Haydn. The finale is a lively then available thereby making the horn a properly Originally Dennis Brain played on a French At the time of his death he had taken up conducting, gallop, full of hunting calls and the chase and its melodic instrument. Raoux-Millereau instrument, a twin of his father’s, and it is fascinating to surmise what he might have The Four Horn Concertos hazards. In the case of these Mozart concertos, Dennis but in 1951 he changed to a German Alexander achieved. K. 495 was composed in Vienna and completed Brain was the first soloist to record all four, although model in order to achieve a more robust sound. It is Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments on 26th June 1786. This is Mozart’s second concerto he had earlier recorded Nos. 2 and 4. It is interesting this instrument that Brain used in the Mozart Malcolm Walker for Leutgeb for whom Mozart wrote his autograph to place the recording of these Mozart concertos in concertos. As a person he was humble, somewhat IS B score in four different colours of ink: it was not a relation to Brain’s other work at the time. He had NN RAI joke but an indication for the soloist in the matter of played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under DE N dynamics and colouristic inflection. Unusually the Beecham on the 1st and 4th November in London, first movement exists in three different versions, the followed by two days to record concertos No. 1 to 3 one here being the standard 1802 published edition. on the 11th and 12th, another RPO concert on the This is the most demanding of these concertos with a 15th. There were then two days of sessions with grand first movement, contrasted with a gentle Karajan and the Philharmonia to record the Mozart slower and restrained one which becomes more Sinfonia concertante K. 297b on the 17th and 18th, agitated and passionate. The finale is one of followed by a performance of K. 495 under Paul Mozart’s best, a hunting rondo in wonderfully Sacher and the RPO on the evening of 18th. Then unbuttoned manner. came a concert with Karajan on the 20th November, The Quintet for oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon another concerto with the Hallé Orchestra under and piano in E flat, K. 452, was composed in Vienna Barbirolli in Bradford on the 21st, followed by a before 21st March 1784 when it was to have been BBC live broadcast of Delius’s opera Irmelin on the given its first performance in the Burgtheater on that 22nd, and a recording of the fourth Mozart Concerto Mark Obert-Thorn date. However this event was postponed until 1st under Karajan on the 23rd. This was succeeded by a April. Mozart was decidedly happy with the finished recording of the Gounod Petite symphonie for Karl Mark Obert-Thorn is one of the world’s most respected transfer artist/engineers. He has worked for a number of 1 work, commenting to his father Leopold: “I myself Haas and the London Baroque Ensemble on the 24th, specialist labels, including Pearl, Biddulph, Romophone and Music & Arts. Three of his transfers have been 95 gs 3-1 rdin consider it to be the best work I have ever rounded off by his second recording of Britten’s nominated for Gramophone Awards. A pianist by training, his passions are music, history and working on projects. 955 Reco composed”. Beginning with a slow introduction, the Serenade with Peter Pears but conducted by Eugene He has found a way to combine all three in the transfer of historical recordings. opening movement then moves into a vibrant Goossens, between the 25th and 27th. Obert-Thorn describes himself as a ‘moderate interventionist’ rather than a ‘purist’ or ‘re-processor,’ unlike Allegro. There is a contrasting slow movement, What was so special about Brain’s playing? He those who apply significant additions and make major changes to the acoustical qualities of old recordings. His before the work concludes with a lively Allegretto. displayed an astonishing mastery of the whole range philosophy is that a good transfer should not call attention to itself, but rather allow the performances to be heard The concertos were written for the Austrian horn of the instrument. He also played with remarkable with the greatest clarity. Philharmonia Orchestra • Herbert von Karajan player Joseph Leutgeb (c.1745-1811). He hailed delicacy of execution in rapid staccato passages, There is no over-reverberant ‘cathedral sound’ in an Obert-Thorn restoration, nor is there the tinny bass and from Salzburg and became first horn in the Salzburg allied to innate subtlety of phrasing. Note the wit and piercing mid-range of many ‘authorised’ commercial issues. He works with the cleanest available 78s, and Walter Gieseking • Philharmonia Wind Ensemble court orchestra in 1770. He later visited Paris before crispness of the Rondo to K. 417, the gossamer gleam consistently achieves better results than restoration engineers working with the metal parts from the archives of the settling in Vienna where he also ran a and effortlessness of the first movement of K. 495, modern corporate owners of the original recordings. His transfers preserve the original tone of the old recordings, cheesemonger’s shop. He remained on friendly the glowing warmth of the Romanza of K. 447 swiftly maximising the details in critical upper mid-range and lower frequencies to achieve a musical integrity that is terms with Mozart until the latter’s death in 1791 followed by the tongue in cheek nature of the ensuing absent from many other commercially released restorations. and retired from playing the following year. Leutgeb Rondo. In all four works there is a smile, buoyancy, 8.111070 5 8.111070 6 111070 rr BrainMozart EU 26-10-2006 8:10 Pagina 1

CMYK NAXOS Historical NAXOS Historical 8.111070 Wolfgang Amadeus Playing Time ADD MOZART 75:16 (1756-1791) and copying of thiscompact disc prohibited. broadcasting Unauthorised publicperformance, textsandtranslations reserved. artwork, All rights inthissoundrecording, &

The Four Horn Concertos 07NxsRgt nentoa t.Made inthe EU 2007 Naxos RightsInternational Ltd. Quintet for Piano and Wind Instruments MOZART: MOZART:

1-2 Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412 (8:16) Although it is now nearly half a century since the legendary horn player Dennis 3-5 Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K. 417 (13:44) Brain died at the early age of 36 on 1st 6-8 Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447 (15:53) Horn Concertos•PianoQuintet Horn Concertos • Piano Quintet September 1957, killed at the wheel of his 9-! Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495 (16:05) car while on an overnight journey home Dennis Brain, horn from a concert at the Edinburgh Festival, his Philharmonia Orchestra • Herbert von Karajan reputation has never dimmed. Possessed Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, with an astonishing mastery of the whole 12th, 13th and 23rd November 1953 range of the instrument, Brain played with remarkable delicacy of execution in rapid @-$ Quintet in E flat major for Piano (21:30) and Wind Instruments, K. 452 staccato passages, allied to an innate Walter Gieseking, piano subtlety of phrasing. Elegant, buoyant and Philharmonia Wind Ensemble effortlessly exuberant, these famous 1953 (Sidney Sutcliffe, oboe; Bernard Walton, clarinet; Dennis Brain, horn; Cecil James, bassoon) performances of the four Mozart concertos Recorded in EMI Abbey Road Studio No. 1, London, continue to be the yardstick by which all 15th April 1955 subsequent versions are measured.

Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn 8.111070 8.111070 Cover photo: Dennis Brain (Private Collection)

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