Anyone who purchased the earlier Orpheus Chamber Orchestra record of Mozart wind concertos (the Clarinet Concerto and Horn Concertos Nos. 1 and 4—DG 423 377-2GH, 6/88) will find this a worthy second instalment and an opportunity to complete a set of the horn concertos, albeit with two different soloists—the previous one was David Jolley. Here William Purvis plays fluently and attractively; even if his phrasing is just a little deliberate in the Romanze of No. 3, K447, this is most responsive music-making and the accompaniments are spirited and amiable. I was particularly struck by the oboist's reedily plaintive timbre in the Adagio of his concerto, making it sound very much an oboe rather than a flute concerto. The finale, too, is delightfully light and felicitious in its rhythmic pointing.
Appropriately the performance of the Bassoon Concerto is mellow and beguilingly relaxed with the soloist very communicative and genial. The closing Minuet is particularly engaging in its delicacy of articulation and colouring, after the lyrical warmth of the Andante. With outstandingly natural recording this CD gives much pleasure for the Orpheus group readily convey their enjoyment in the music, while not lacking polish or any degree of character certainly there is no suggestion that the absence of a conductor has brought any kind of facelessness. Though buying the two CDs does not bring the most characterful set of horn concertos available, both make very agreeable collections in their own right, distinguished by their Mozartian sensibility. Modern instruments are used to excellent effect.'