The Essential Collection - Horn Concertos

This 5-CD set presents celebrated recordings by the legendary British soloist Dennis Brain of horn concertos by Paul Hindemith, Richard Strauss, and Mozart, as well as Benjamin Britten's Serenade for tenor, horn and strings, and a Beethoven sonata.

The recording of the four Mozart concertos was made in London in 1953 and is still considered to be a benchmark. As a bonus, this compilation, which spans the years between 1946 to 1959, also includes a chamber work, Brahms' Horn Trio, opus 40, in which Brain's father Aubrey can be heard playing together with Rudolf Serkin and Adolf Busch.

Dennis Brain was the most eminent French horn player in the history of recording. Scarcely any other performer has displayed such perfect mastery of his instrument. Brain's artistry inspired several composers to write for him, including Benjamin Britten, Paul Hindemith, Michael Tippett, Gordon Jacob, Malcolm Arnold, and Francis Poulenc.

Personnel: Dennis Brain (French horn), Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan, Walter Susskind, Paul Hindemith (conductor), Walter Gieseking, Denis Matthews, Rudolf Serkin (piano), Peter Pears (tenor), New Symphony Orchestra, Eugene Goossens (conductor), Philharmonia Wind Ensemble and others