Bruggen conducts the OAE

[pilamenon]

As usual, I never got to hear much of a concert I'd been looking forward to. But did catch nearly all of Schubert 5, and thoroughly enjoyed the period playing and the (as it seemed to me) relatively leisurely tempos.

[MickyD]

Well Caliban, I never attempted to play that piece on my valve horn - I simply did not have that sort of technique and remember, this was a live performance!

No retakes allowed and I thought the soloist did a wonderful job and a few split notes and missed notes must be accepted - simply as an illustration of how privileged today's horn players are, to have the assistance of their instruments in tackling this extreme writing.

I have a recording of this work played on the hand horn by Anthony Halstead, who is another specialist in hand horn playing.

With the Hanover Band as I recall and one of the players told me that Mr Halstead only did one short retake at the very end, to hit that last high note (out of the instrument's normal range) cleanly.

Perhaps our own Waldhorn has a view?

I have to agree about the Weber Symphony. Not worthy of inclusion in what was otherwise a superb concert.

VH

I have this recording too and love it - the piece never fails to bring a smile to my face and Halstead's playing is a joy.