GM2070 Richard Todd: Horn Sonatas of Three Centuries
Music of Beethoven, Schuller & Rheinberger

Richard Todd, acclaimed as one of the premier hornists of his generation, performs French horn sonatas from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.  Included are a Beethoven sonata completed in 1799 (but premiered in 1800), a little-heard-but-lyrical-and-forceful sonata by Munich Conservatory professor Josef Rheinberger from 1894, and a sonata from 1988 by Gunther Schuller (who “wrote the book” — literally — on horn technique). Todd is accompanied by pianists Kevin Fitzgerald on the Beethoven and Rheinberger pieces and by Jon Sakata on the Schuller.

Todd, who works as a much-in-demand soloist with orchestras around the world, is Principal Hornist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Lecturer at the USC Thornton School of Music.  He is equally adroit in the jazz world and has performed with Clark Terry, Woody Herman, Lalo Shifrin, McCoy Tyner, Dave Grusin, and others.

His recordings appear on GM, RCA, Angel, Nonesuch, Delos, Hanssler, BMG and Capitol, and has performed on over 500 motion picture scores. He has served as faculty at Chautauqua, UCLA, Occidental College, California Institute of the Arts, Bowdoin Festival, and the Henry Mancini Institute, and is in constant demand as a lecturer and clinician. He is a spokesperson and consultant for Conn Horns, where he assists in developing horn and mouthpiece designs.

This marks his fourth appearance on GM Recordings. He may be heard on Gunther Schuller: Three Concertos performing the Concerto No. 1 for Horn and Orchestra by Schuller. Of his previous GM recordings, New Ideas is currently available only on LP, whereas Rickter Scale is available as a CD as well as via digital downloads and streaming.