Following the release of his debut album in May 2007 the virtuoso horn player Etienne Cutajar, who took up his first orchestral seat at 18, has seen his career develop with important orchestral appointments in Scotland and elsewhere before returning to his native country to become principal horn of the Malta Philharmonic. He has also appeared as chamber soloist in many prestigious venues. This album is named for the central work, Mdina, by Maltese composer Jesmond Grixti; this is a work for horn solo and accompanied by two more contemporary pieces: Air fÃ¼r Horn by JÃ¶rg Widmann and Cynddaredd-Brenddyd by Heinz Holliger. These works require the highest accuracy and technical ability which Cutajar supplies with aplomb. Accompanying these new pieces are three mainstream works: Beethoven's well known Sonata receives a superb performance, as do the Andante by Richard Strauss and Brahms's Horn Trio in E flat. In these works, Cutajar is joined by esteemed pianist and Royal Academy professor John Reid, and in the Brahms Trio by Carmine Lauri, one of the UK's principal orchestral violinists, who has led the London Symphony, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and Royal Opera House among others, and has been featured violinist in a host of major feature films.

Tracklist:

Horn Sonata In F Major, Op. 17: I. Allegro Moderato
Horn Sonata In F Major, Op. 17: II. Poco Adagio, Quasi Andante
Horn Sonata In F Major, Op. 17: III. Rondo Allegro
Air
Andante In C Major, Trv 155
Mdina (Arr. For Horn)
Cynddaredd - Brenddwyd
Horn Trio In E-Flat Major, Op. 40: I. Andante
Horn Trio In E-Flat Major, Op. 40: II. Scherzo. Allegro
Horn Trio In E-Flat Major, Op. 40: III. Adagio Mesto
Horn Trio In E-Flat Major, Op. 40: IV. Finale. Allegro Con Brio

UPC: 809730518928
Label: Divine Art
Release Date: 4.19.19
Format: CD

Mdina / Various - Mdina (CD)