Martin Owen - French Horn - Worldwide Artists Ltd.

Martin Owen is widely regarded as one of Europe's leading horn-players, appearing as both guest principal horn with the major London orchestras, and those further afield, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He also appears as a soloist and chamber musician in some of the leading music festivals around the world. Since giving his Wigmore Hall debut in 1997, he has performed a variety of recitals and concert! at home and around the world, including the USA, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan. In 1998, Martin became principal horn of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a post he relinquished after ten years of service.

Martin now currently holds the position of principal horn of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but still continues a busy and varied solo career outside of the orchestra. Recent performances include Richard Strauss' Second horn concerto with the New World Symphony, Malcolm Arnold Concert! with both the Scottish Ensemble and Bulgarian Chamber Orchestra, Britten Serenade with tenors ranging from Toby Spence to Philip Langridge and Guildhall Strings, Messiaen - Des Canyons aux Etoiles with Ensemble Modern, Haydn concerto no. 2 with English Sinfonia, Jan van der Roost- Rhapsody with the Scottish Academy, Gordon Jacob's concerto and Weber Concertino at the British horn festival, and many performances of the Mozart concerti with the RPO. Additionally, Martin also performed the world premiere of Malcolm Arnold's recently discovered "Burlesque", with the RPO in the composers home town of Northampton.

In 2003, Martin recorded Britten's Serenade, for Tenor, Horn and Strings (Linn records) with Toby Spence and the Scottish Ensemble directed by Clio Gould, to great critical acclaim, leading to Paul Driver of the Sunday Times citing "Owen's playing is a luxury for the ear". He has recently returned to the Wigmore with the Serenade, and recently performed there in a performance of Schubert's Octet (recorded for Wigmore Hall Live label) with Michael Collins.

Other engagements have included a German tour of Schumann's Konzertstuck with the RPO, recording Mozart concerto no. 4 (RPO classics), Roderick Elms' Four Seasonal Nocturnes for horn (RPO, Dutton label), and in 2007, Martin's solo prom debut performing Schumann's Konzertstuck with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Martin recently performed Britten's Serenade, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the Bad Kissingen festival 2008, followed by his Barbican debut in the London premiere of Elliot Carter's horn concerto, also with the BBC/Oliver Knussen on Carter's 100th birthday. Martin's performance of this work will be released by Bridge Records, March 2010.

His recent recording of Danzi's Sinfonia Concertante, with the Orquestra de Cadaques (Trito label) was released in 2009. Martin subsequently returned to the proms as soloist in Oliver Knussen's horn concerto with the BBC Symphony, conducted by the composer in a highly acclaimed performance broadcast live on BBC television and radio.

Martin has been awarded a Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music, where he is Professor of Horn.

UPDATED December 2009 - DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM Worldwide Artists Ltd. (www.worldwideartists.com)

Martin Owen...brings a Dennis Brain-like poetry to his playing.

Michael Kennedy, Sunday Telegraph

It was a good idea to have Oliver Knussen conduct his Horn Concerto...a little gem, already heard twice before at the Proms and here given a radiant performance by Martin Owen.
Geoffrey Norris, Daily Telegraph,

(Owen as soloist in Knussen Horn Concerto, BBC Prom 30, 2009)

Also on the schedule was the UK premiere of a new work by Knussen, but unfortunately his Cleveland Pictures was not ready in time. Instead, there was a performance of his 1994 Horn Concerto, with Martin Owen as the wonderfully supple soloist.

Andrew Clements, The Guardian

(Owen as soloist in Knussen Horn Concerto, BBC Prom 30, 2009)

Owen as soloist in Elliott Carter Horn Concerto, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Oliver Knussen, Barbican Centre. Carter's 100th birthday celebration:

Martin Owen.... dazzled us in the recent Horn Concerto, a jubilant celebration of this "peculiar instrument" (Carter's phrase), with the solo gymnastics magically tinctured by a rainbow of wonders, from tutti shrieks and a percussion salsa to whispers of vibraphone and muted brass.
Geoff Brown, The Times

Carter's astonishingly vivid Horn Concerto was scrupulously played by Martin Owen.
Keith McDonnell, MusicOMH.com

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CD Reviews, Owen as soloist alongside Toby Spence with the Scottish Ensemble,

Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings:

Owen's playing is a luxury for the ear.
Paul Driver, The Sunday Times

Martin Owen's horn playing is rich and expressive in the Serenade, and he manages the haunting, swooping octaves in 'Dirge' with apparent ease.

BBC Music Magazine

Horn virtuoso Martin Owen balances himself against the rest of the group in the ensemble numbers, but he makes the most of the "Prologue", playing with incredible dynamic range and pushing himself as close to the edge as Anthony Halstead did in the Nimbus recording...Moving into the "Elegy", Owen rivals Halstead for power and sharp character...The slow pace for the movement intensifies it immensely, and Owen's control over his final few notes is masterful. The subsequent "Dirge"...capped at its height by a demonic contribution from Owen's horn.

A more convincing case for an intimately-scaled performance of the Serenade is difficult to imagine.

Mark Jordan, High Fidelity.com

Other Solo Recordings:

Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K495 with the

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor, Nicholas Cleobury

Roderick Elms, Four Seasonal Nocturnes for Horn with the

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor, Stephen Bell

Simfonia Concertant for flute, oboe, horn and bassoon with

Orquestra de Cadaqués Conductor, Sir Neville Marriner

To be released in March 2010:

Elliott Carter Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra