Horn of Plenty

Although Mozart was an avid theatre enthusiast, he wrote music for a play only once. The playwright Baron von Gebler sought the help of the genius composer when the previously commissioned music for his latest play, Thamos, King of Egypt, proved highly unsatisfactory. It was a risky move, but it is easy to guess that Mozart surpassed expectations. While the play did not achieve success, the accompanying exquisite music quickly became a standalone concert piece.

Strauss wrote his Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 11, at the age of eighteen, right after abandoning his philosophy studies. Then, he was determined to devote his life to music. The piece accompanied him on his travels through European capitals and significantly contributed to his successful debut as a composer. While this concerto is widely considered Strauss’s first significant composition, Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C major, The Great, is regarded as the pinnacle of the prematurely deceased composer’s musical achievements. Schubert himself saw it as a representation of his pursuit of the highest form of musical art. However, he never had the opportunity to hear his opus magnum performed despite his efforts. The score was rejected by, among others, the Vienna Philharmonic, who found it too long and demanding. It was Schumann who finally brought about the premiere of this undisputed masterpiece, but it happened posthumously. The premiere took place in Leipzig and caused a sensation, securing Schubert’s Ninth Symphony a place in the core repertoire of classical music.

Strauss's Concerto for Horn and Orchestra No. 1, performed by Stefan Dohr and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Tadaaki Otaki:

Schubert's Symphony No. 9 performed by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andrés Orozco-Estrada: