The viability of the horn trio was definitively established by Brahms in 1865. He had learned the natural horn as a child and infused his Trio with a range of moods, including a deeply felt slow movement in honour of his mother who had died earlier in the year and a carefree finale which explores the horn’s hunting legacy. Inspired by this precedent, Lennox Berkeley’s Trio is lively and characterful with a sequence of ingenious and playful variations. Grammy-nominated Jonathan Leshnoff is one of America’s leading contemporary composers and his 2016 Trio moves from darkness to light, and is full of pointed syncopations, before arriving at a joyous conclusion.

This recording is very timely, as 2023 marks the 190th anniversary of Brahms’s birth, as well as 120th anniversary of Berkeley’s birth and Leshnoff’s 50th birthday.

David Cooper held the coveted solo horn position of the Berlin Philharmonic in 2017–18 and became principal horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2019. Among the world’s top horn players, Cooper is recognised for his ability to flawlessly and expressively perform the most challenging repertoire.

In 1996 at the age of 26, violinist Alexander Kerr was appointed to the prestigious position of Concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. Having returned to the US, he is now Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

The pianist in this recording, Orion Weiss, has made a number of recordings for Naxos. His recording of Scarlatti, which can be heard on 8573222, received great reviews: ‘Orion Weiss’ Scarlatti occupies a [high] level of artistry altogether…This 15th volume in Naxos’ ongoing Scarlatti cycle is one of the series’…finest’ (Gramophone).