Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

When he became music director in Cologne after the war at the age of thirty-three, Günter Wand insisted from the start on the inclusion of contemporary music in order to restore musical life amid the material and intellectual ruins.

In particular, he wanted to bring back into German musical life the composers who had been forbidden and persecuted by the Nazis, and include them with Classical and Romantic repertoire in the "normal" subscription concerts, not in special concert series.

The four Mozart concertos for horn are recorded for the first time here using a corno di caccia, a particularly warm and charming instrument. Marc Geujon is the solo trumpet player in the National Orchestra of the Paris Opera. These live performances will be of interest to brass music lovers and Mozart specialists.

All the works on this recording were written by composers who themselves played the violin. Their intimate knowledge of the instrument is clearly evident in the music. The works are all very different, but each is expressive and idiomatic and the violin and viola have equal voices. Elise Båtnes appears as a soloist with leading orchestras and conductors around the world.

The Gryphon Trio has firmly established itself as one of the world’s greatest piano trios. They have released 13 recordings on the Analekta label and their most recent recording of Beethoven Trios (AN29860) won a coveted Juno Award from the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. This collection brings many of their critically acclaimed release together at a great price.

This is the debut CD of these young and top-notch wind players. Their recital includes an arrangement of Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture, Danzi’s highly polished and sophisticated Wind Quintet in G minor, as well as a quintet from the 1920s by Haas. The collection is like a scintillating, colourful and virtuoso cocktail.