Regarded as one of Europe's leading horn players, Martin Owen appears as a soloist and chamber musician all around the world. He currently holds the position of principal horn at the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, and Haffner Wind Ensemble, having served as principal horn of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and, on a temporary contract, as solo horn of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Mozart composed all of these pieces for the virtuoso horn player Joseph Leutgeb (or Leitgeb) (1732 - 1811). Leutgeb was born in Vienna and established his reputation as a soloist there before working in Salzburg, where Mozart made his acquaintance. Martin Owen writes: 'In this recording, we have attempted to portray a more youthful vigour in the earlier works (indeed, of Joseph Leutgeb himself, for whom they were written) compared to the Concerto in D, in many ways a swan song for both soloist and composer, in which I hope our performance shows more depth of tone and a higher level of maturity. I was intrigued by the fact that in 1990, sixty bars of music were uncovered in a Sotheby's auction, which were later confirmed as belonging to the concert Rondeau, KV 371 - when I was young, I only knew the work without these bars and always felt that there was too abrupt a change into the next section! Now it makes complete sense.'

Tracklist:

Concerto No. 1, KV 412 and KV 514 in D Major for Horn and Orchestra-Allegro
Concerto No. 1, KV 412 and KV 514 in D Major for Horn and Orchestra-Rondo. Allegro
Concerto No. 2, KV 417 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra-Allegro Maestoso
Concerto No. 2, KV 417 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra-Andante
Concerto No. 2, KV 417 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra-Rondo. Allegro - PiÃ¹ Allegro
Concerto No. 3, KV 447 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra-Allegro - [Cadenza] - [Tempo I]
Concerto No. 3, KV 447 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra-Romance. Larghetto
Concerto No. 3, KV 447 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra-Allegro
Concerto No. 4, KV 495 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra-Allegro Maestoso - [Cadenza] - [Tempo I]
Concerto No. 4, KV 495 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra-Romance. Andante Cantabile
Concerto No. 4, KV 495 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra-Rondo. Allegro Vivace
Rondeau, KV 371 in E Flat Major for Horn and Orchestra

UPC: 0095115237724
Label: Chandos
Release Date: 5.15.26
Format: CD

Martin Owen - Mozart: Horn Cons (CD)