Beethoven: Music for Winds

Scottish Chamber Orchestra Wind Soloists

All around the world, critics cheered the SCO Wind Soloists’ previous album of Mozart Divertimenti: ‘superb in every way’ (Fanfare), ‘a joy from start to finish’ (Europadisc), ‘sparkles with joy and chuckles with good humour’ (BBC Radio 3 ‘Record Review’).

Continuing to explore the Harmoniemusik repertoire, the Wind Soloists’ new recording features youthful, entertaining and brilliant music by a young man who took Vienna by storm in the 1790s: Ludwig van Beethoven.

The underrated Octet is a technically challenging concert piece in the Mozart tradition, but with the flair and unpredictability of the young Beethoven.

In the Sextet, Beethoven exploits the differing characteristics of each instrument to great effect with the SCO’s legendary interplay on full display.

Another gem is the short but sweet Rondino, which is full of subtle details, exquisite melodies and exhilaratingly high-speed horn playing.

August 2018

One wouldn’t normally expect late-18th-century aristocratic entertainment music to survive the test of time, but this really does speak across the ages…The horn writing is especially ear-catching: at times almost frenetically exuberant, it’s played superbly here by the two SCO horns…But all the solo playing here is impressive, as is the tight, beautifully balanced ensemble, and the recording does it justice.