The amazing skill of two great virtuosos, Joseph Leutgeb and Anton Stadler, inspired Mozart to compose the concertos heard here. Made in 1959, this DECCA recording gives us an excellent idea of how the concertos would have sounded in Mozart’s day, thanks to two of today’s very best instrumentalists – the clarinettist Gervase de Peyer and the horn player Barry Tuckwell.
Amazing lightness, warmth of tone and perfect intonation are the hallmarks of the soloist and London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Peter Maag in the clarinet concerto, which Mozart completed only a few weeks before his death. The two horn concertos heard here were also written during Mozart’s final creative period in Vienna. Just one hearing is enough to let them be remembered for all time – for these concertos employ to the full the horn’s rich and widely varied range of expression. Broad arching melodies, tripping runs and merry hunting calls in the final movements guarantee musical enjoyment, and for this we owe our thanks to both the past and present masters of their instruments in this delightful recording.

Recording: November 1959 at Kingsway Hall, London by Kenneth E. Wilkinson / Production: Ray Minshull