Canadian horn player Louis-Philippe Marsolais, who has already distinguished himself on disc as a member of the Pentaèdre Wind Quintet, makes a remarkable solo album debut with this collection of German Romantic music for horn. This is easily one of the most satisfying CDs of music for horn to appear in years, both because of Marsolais' extraordinary playing and the fine repertoire he has chosen. Schumann's Adagio and Allegro is the only widely familiar piece on the disc, which includes Richard Strauss' Andante for French ...
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Canadian horn player Louis-Philippe Marsolais, who has already distinguished himself on disc as a member of the Pentaèdre Wind Quintet, makes a remarkable solo album debut with this collection of German Romantic music for horn. This is easily one of the most satisfying CDs of music for horn to appear in years, both because of Marsolais' extraordinary playing and the fine repertoire he has chosen. Schumann's Adagio and Allegro is the only widely familiar piece on the disc, which includes Richard Strauss' Andante for French horn and piano from his unfinished sonata, two pieces by Franz Strauss (Richard's horn-playing father), Variations on a Swiss Folk Song by Franz Lachner, and Tre Pezzi in Forma di Sonata by Karl Pilss. It might be expected that Schumann's masterpiece would dwarf the works by the composers who (except for the younger Strauss) are mostly forgotten, but besides offering a virtuoso hornist the opportunity to dazzle, the music is substantial and attractive.Marsolais has everything a...
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