Am I the only one who loves french horns?


What are your favorite recordings?
erik_squires
Love the sound of "the horn." Off the top of my head, favorites are Stauss's horn concertos 1 & 2 and Mozart's horn concertos.

I could listen to the VPO's horns all day long. They use Vienna horns which are smaller and use different valves than the typical French horn.
So mellow and smooth.


Forgot to add Mozart's Horn Quintet in E flat major.

Re: Mozart horn concertos, I highly recommend Karajan/Philarmonia Orchestra,
recorded 1953.

I pay particular attention to reproduction of French Horns when auditioning new equipment.  I have found that a piece of equipment that gets horns right usually gets everything right.  If an audition doesn't get horns right, and I mean really right, I move on.  I will never be satisfied with that equipment.   I enjoy all of Lowrider's nominations, but for me the horn is best used sparingly.  It is best appreciated as a side dish, not a main course.
So I was watching an Anime and the main character plays the Euphonium. I don't really hear about that in classical music. Any fans or recommended recordings?

E
Also called the "baritone". Answer is "no" I haven't heard any cd's featuring the instrument. IT'S a half-sized tuba BTW. But I did hear a professional someone play one for our band class to demonstrate just how great it can sound. It can sound as good as a trombone in the right hands/ uh, mouth. The French horn is a wonderful instrument as well.
Then you have the vast array of clarinets, including the Mozartian version. Bass flutes are neat too. English horns are a must for any great orchestra. The harpsichord is irreplaceable as well. The only thing I don't get are baroque violins. They just don't sound as good although I love cd's with "original instruments" anyway, regardless. As long as the ensemble knows how to do a great job it's fine with me. But I really like a bass clarinet's sound. Or a contra-bass clarinet! The modern "symphony" orchestra has more colors and vibrancy that just totally makes my day. People that have never heard one in person are (sincerely) deprived of a great experience, better than any 3-d movie, even Spielberg, Lucas, whatever. You're missing out, period. BIS records may have some interesting solo albums- the Virtuoso Series. That may be a possible source of some offbeat recordings...
Marty Feldman on french horn and Gene Wilder on violin in Young Frankenstein. 
@brownsfan ,
I know what you mean. Listening to 3 or 4 movements of a horn piece can be overwhelming. Mozart did it well, but best suited in a symphony.

I saw Bruckner's 7th & 8th live which featured 8 French horns and they had the sweetest sound I've ever heard from a brass instrument.
4 of them doubled as Wagner tubas to accompany the French horns which sounded heavenly. 
The Wagner horn when used by Strauss and Wagner has the familiar brassy sound, intentional of course.

I do erik. It is a lovely instrument that adds a certain flavor to any recording.I am not a Classical expert, but I do enjoy it upon recognition. The Rolling Stones used it brilliantly on their masterpiece "You can't always get what you Want".  Happy Listening!
I like this one:
Douglas Allanbrook - The Majesty of the Horn. Mapleshade #07682. French horn and piano.