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.

Contents:
CD 1
MOZART
1-2. Horn Concerto No.1 in E-flat Major, KV 412
3-5. Horn Concerto No.2 in E-flat Major, KV 417
6-8. Horn Concerto No.3 in E-flat Major, KV 447
9-11. Horn Concerto No.4 in E-flat Major, KV 495
Philharmonia Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan (1953)

CD 2
MOZART
1-3. Quintet in Eb Major for Piano & Winds, KV 452
Walter Gieseking (piano), Philharmonia Wind Ensemble (1955)
4-7. Divertimento No.14 in B-flat Major, KV 270
Dennis Brain Ensemble (1957)
8-11. Divertimento in F for 2 Horns & Strings, KV 522
Neill Sanders (horn), Manoug Parikian (violin), Philharmonia Orchestra / Guido Cantelli (1955)

CD 3
MOZART
1-6. Divertimento No.2 in D Major, KV 131
Members of the RPO / Sir Thomas Beecham (1947/48)
7-9. Quintet for Horn and Strings in Eb Major, KV 407
Griller String Quartet (1944)
10-12. Horn Concerto No.2 in E-flat Major, KV 417
Philharmonia Orchestra / Walter Susskind (1946)

CD 4
1-3. HINDEMITH: Horn Concerto
Philharmonia Orchestra / Paul Hindemith (1956)
4-11. BRITTEN: Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings op.31
Peter Pears (tenor)
New Symphony Orchestra / Eugene Goossens (1959)
12-14. BEETHOVEN: Sonata for Horn and Piano
Denis Matthews (piano) (1944)

CD 5
RICHARD STRAUSS
1-3. Horn Concerto No.1 in Eb Major, op. 11
4-6. Horn Concerto No.2 in E-flat Major
Philharmonia Orchestra / Wolfgang Sawallisch (1956)
7-9. BRAHMS: Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano, op.40
Aubray Brain (horn), Adolf Busch (violin), Rudolf Serkin (piano) (1933)