Mozart's Symphony No. 40 & Albrechtberger's Trombone Concerto

Mozart's Symphony No. 40

Mozart's Symphony No. 40 is one of the greatest classical hits. That is not surprising, because the music is elegant, exciting, theatrical and beautiful. The work has appealed to the imagination for centuries: composer Robert Schumann heard 'A Greek lightness and elegance'. Musicologist Donald Tovey saw the symphony as an 'Opera Buffa' and pianist Charles Rosen called it 'A work of passion, violence and sadness'. And that is exactly the beauty of this masterpiece by Mozart: everyone hears something different in it, and at the same time everyone is right.

Ouwejan plays Albrechtsberger

The virtuoso Concerto for Trombone by Johann Albrechtsberger, teacher of Beethoven and Mozart's son Franz Xaver, is in the gallant style of the transition from the Baroque to the Classical period. The piece is light and has none of the bombasticness that some will associate with the trombone. It is beautiful, easily digestible music, perfect for Sunday mornings.