If we consider Haydn in connection with the French horn we probably first think of his famous symphony, nicknamed the Hornsignal. But though the four horns of that piece testify to Haydn’s wonderfully fertile imagination in writing music for this most difficult of brass instruments, it is by no means the only example. In this new release the Dutch ‘natural’ horn player Ab Koster and three fellow horn players, two oboists and L’Archibudelli string ensemble explore five less familiar works. In one of them at least – the Divertimento à tre – Haydn demands nothing less than technical magicianship from his horn player. Koster rises to the occasion, negotiating with seeming nonchalance passages of sustained lyricism, sudden bursts of arpeggios, acrobatic leaps and busy passagework that often heads towards the stratosphere. A virtuoso performance. Performance 5 (out of 5) Sound 5 (out of 5)
