Home from the Hunt

Omaha Consort presents:
Home from the Hunt
7p Concert; 6:30p pre-concert talk; reception following.


General Notes:
The concert, entitled Home from the Hunt, will present some of the most shining examples of the horn in chamber music and as a solo instrument. Three works on the program were composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for his lifelong friend, and horn virtuoso, Joseph Leutgeb. Mozart was fascinated with the horn throughout his career and is quoted as telling his sister, Maria, "Remind me to give plenty of good work for the horns." He held true to this and left a wealth of the literature for early horn in chamber music, concertos, and famous passages from his operatic and symphonic catalogues. This music serves some of the finest examples of horn writing of any era and is notable for securing a place for the horn in the solo and chamber literature for the following centuries.

The music begins with Mozart's Quintet, k. 407 for horn, violin, two violas, and cello. It ends with his Concerto no. 2, k. 417 transcribed for horn and string quartet by Peter Landgren. The program will also feature Michael Haydn's 1795 rearrangement of Mozart's Romance from the Third Horn Concerto for horn and string quartet. The Consort will present its fourth world premiere of the season with an unaccompanied horn work by Omaha-based composer, and horn player, Phill Smith.

I will be the featured horn soloist and MC for the evening. I look forward to introducing Consort patrons to some of the finest music written for any instrument. This program shows the horn in its most beautiful light away from the symphony stage as we hear Mozart's most sensitive and masterful treatment of the instrument. I will be joined by some of Omaha's finest musicians and fellow colleagues from the Symphony. I hope to see you there!


JdW