Search - R. Strauss, Hindemith, Brain :: Dennis Brain ~ Strauss - The Two Horn Concertos & Hindemith - Horn Concerto / Sawallisch

Dennis is Dennis. Strauss 1 became his signature piece.

Charles Prim (chuckyp@aol.com) | California | 10/23/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Re-mixed from original record I heard 35 years ago ( and still own 4th platter ) Still O.K. No one makes a French Horn sound like a French Horn as Dennis could. These are arguably the best concerti ever written for horn....Strauss 1 is a delightful exercise in showcasing the beauty and versitility of the modern horn...( horn and flute duet in the middle of a concerto??!! )and is wonderfully pleasant to a great range of music listeners. Strauss 2 is my pick for the greatest horn concerto of all time....but one has to understand French Horn to truly appreciate this masterpiece....or perhaps not! Listen and enjoy!Charley"

Wonderful hindemith, good Strauss

alessandro dosio | 10/18/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have to start saying that the recording of Hindemith concerto is simply impressive. Wonderful. Many composer were astonished by Dennis playing and wrote pieces specifically for him (Hindemith but also Britten, for instance). Also, the recording here is conducted by Hindemith himself, so I think there are no better performances available. About the Strauss concerti, like a previous reviewer i have to say that in my opinion there could exist other great recordings. Performing these concerti I prefer a more aggressive style, less smooth, more "germanic". Ok, Dennis is anyway great, his music, phrases and sound are milestones and examples for all the horn players, but try to compare (just for the sake) other interpretations (my personal favorite is H.Baumann with Gewandaus/Masur, Philips label)."

Simply the best.

alessandro dosio | 08/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording will put any other rendition of Strauss or Hindemith to shame. Brain plays with a lightness, clarity and flow that the masters of today can only dream about. The Hindemith was written for Dennis Brain, and this recording is conducted by the composer himself. The tragedy of Brain's early death is made all the more obvious by recordings like this. If you care about Horn music at all, heckif you care about soloists at all, but this CD."