Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Robert Schumann :: The Art of The Vienna Horn

Excellent presentation of standard horn solo masterpieces.

Michael Simpson | Austin, TX USA | 11/04/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 2004 disc contains four standards in the horn chamber music repertoire: Beethoven's Sonata in F for horn and piano; Schubert's Auf dem Strom, for horn, soprano, and piano; Schumann's Adagio and Allegro, for horn and piano; and Brahms's Trio for violin, horn, and piano.



The horn soloist is Wolfgang Toembeck, listed on the liner notes as the principal hornist of the Vienna Philharmonic. Mr. Toembeck has a dark, European tone, more "covered" than the "New York" tone found in the recordings of John Cerminaro, e.g., but not as mellow as Dennis Brain. He proves an able soloist as well as orchestral player, if this album is any proof. In the Beethoven, there is the slightest hint of dragging during the devilishly difficult sixteenth-note passage in the coda; otherwise, it is a perfect rendition. The Schubert and Schumann are very good recordings of important horn works that are hard to find on CD. Each of these pieces present musical challenges to the horn player because of the great varied range, and the prominent role of the piano and, in the case of Auf dem Strom, the soprano. In particular, the Schumann was one of the earliest compositions for the valved horn, and Schumann was eager to test the limits of the newly chromatic instrument.



The performance of the Brahms displays an interpretation I cannot agree with, and a technical mishap that blemishes an otherwise outstanding disc. The detached, almost staccato articulation of the secondary theme in the trio was new to my ears, and I am not persuaded it is correct or preferable to the legato, engulfed version found on, for example, the 1969 Perlman/Tuckwell/Ashekenazy recording (which I consider the gold standard of this work). More troubling is the syncopated rhythm, which drags a third of a beat, changing the accented upbeat to an ordinary 6/8 march. This happened both times through the section, as if it was intentional.



I recommend this disc for its superior recordings of the Adagio and Allegro and Auf dem Strom. The Beethoven is a fine rendition as well. If you are looking for an exemplary recording of the Brahms trio, I recommend the Perlman/Tuckwell/Ashekenazy, which may be found paired with the Faure violin sonata."