In my review of Australian natural horn player Mark Papworth’s last recording for Move Records, New Wine in an Old Bottle, I likened him to a modern day Josef Leutgeb, young Mozart’s favourite hornist. Well, he’s done it again.
Acknowledging the fact that, while much of Europe had adopted the valved horn, the natural horn was taught at the Paris Conservatoire right up until 1902. Papworth has recognised that French composers like Hector Berlioz realised that there were benefits to the valved instrument unobtainable by the old post horn, and rescored his Symphonie Fantastique to take advantage of the possibilities of the valved horn. Whereas, Adolphe Blanc was happy to stick with the old version of the instrument. Papworth has now transcribed Berlioz’s song cycle, Nuits d’été (Summer Nights), for valved horn in a style that was common in the late 1800s.
By contrast Papworth follows this with Adolphe Blanc’s Sonata for horn and piano written for the natural horn. It’s an interesting juxtaposition aided here by the excellent accompaniment from pianist Rosa Scaffidi. Blanc’s sonata was premiered in 1860 by its dedicatee, France’s premier horn player, Jean Mohr, to great acclaim. You might think that sitting through 25 minutes of a post horn sonata might be something of a stretch. Believe me when I say it isn’t!
– Michael Morton-Evans