Franz and Richard Strauss:
- Horn Concertos.
If you love the sounds of the French Horn, this recording is for you! If you think about it, so much of our music from the Romantic Period features the horn. We hear it prominently in symphonies, in Tone Poems, in piano concertos, and in chamber music.
This CD features both horn concertos by Richard Strauss, as well as the first Horn Concerto by his father, Franz Strauss.
Strauss, F:
- Horn Concerto in C minor, Op. 8
Strauss, R:
- Horn Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 11
- Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, AV132
Performed by Samuel Seidenberg (horn), with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sebastian Weigle conducting.
Richard Strauss’ father, Franz Strauss (1822-1905), composed his horn concerto that is notable for its technical difficulty, and which can only be played by a true horn virtuoso.
The 18-year-old Richard Strauss (1864-1949) naturally reflected on his father’s composition when he wrote his First Horn Concerto, Op. 11. This work is still completely in the romantic tradition and is considered successful proof of a youthful talent with its catchy motifs typical of horn writing.
Sixty years later, in 1942, Richard Strauss composed his Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major. This work is frequently regarded as a review of Strauss’ entire musical life.
With his second concerto, Strauss composed a masterwork that is by turns playful and lyrical. It gives no indication of the trials and tribulations of the time during which it was composed, during World War II.
Here is the Amici Ensemble Frankfurt, with Samuel Seidenberg, Horn, performing the Beethoven Sextet in E-flat op.81 b for two horns and strings:
And next, here is the R. Strauss Horn Concerto No. 2 , with Radek Baborák as soloist:
Tags: Richard Strauss, Franz Strauss, Horn Concertos, Samuel Seidenberg, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sebastian Weigle