Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, Christopher Hogwood, Academy of Ancient Music :: Joseph Haydn: Trumpet Concerto, Hob. VIIe:1 / Organ Concerto, Hob. XVIII:1 / Horn Concerto, Hob. VIId:3 - The Academy of Ancient Music / Christopher Hogwood

Wonderful performance of beautiful compositions

coasteray | 07/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I won't bore anyone with a long technical or artistic treatise of this CD. I do wish to say that Christopher Hogwood and the AAM have done a wonderful job in performing these three compositions. I especially appreciate and enjoy Immer's use of the authentic-era keyed-but-still-valveless trumpet on the Concerto in E-flat. This explains why the trumpet heard here can sometimes sound sort of "rough" compared to our modern, valved trumpets. I have heard other CDs featuring this same piece, and can say those performances sound better because of the modern trumpet. Well, I guess I just enjoy the authentic performances so we can tell as best as possible what music must have sounded like long ago. I enjoy the comparisons so I can appreciate the development of instruments. I also really enjoy the Organ Concerto. There is just a certain elegance and feel to this kind of music. Hogwood's group has done an excellent job in performing this. The Horn Concerto is also performed very well. Another nice Haydn piece. So, to conclude, if you enjoy the authentic sound, you will like this CD very much. If you want a perfect trumpet, you won't find it here. The old-style instrument sometimes sounds off-key on certain notes and rough in transitioning to certain notes. It's not Immer's fault. I can only imagine how hard it is to make it sound right. The liner booklet includes an article by Immer about the trumpet. But you know, it's all a part of the authentic sound, so it doesn't bother me. That's the way it was in Haydn's time. I hope anyone who buys this CD will appreciate it the way I do."