Buried treasure

Horn player Sarah Willis shares some of her most prized recordings Smyth Concerto for Violin, Horn and Orchestra

Marie Luise Neunecker (horn), Saschko Gawriloff (violin) et al

Koch Schwann 3 6412-2

Smyth’s Concerto for Violin and Horn was written in 1927 when she was in her seventies and I think you can really hear her feisty character in the music. The piece is included in this album of lesser-known horn concertos played by the German horn player Marie Luise Neunecker, who was a great role model for me. This concerto is a real bonus to our French horn repertoire and one well worth having a listen to. Langgaard Symphony No. 1

Danish National Symphony Orchestra/thomas Dausgaard Dacapo 6.220525

The Danish composer wrote his First Symphony aged only 17. It is hugely symphonic and beautifully descriptive but rather naive in the instrumentation, which is probably why it is not played very often. Much of the piece is incredibly loud but has lovely intimate moments, like the Fjeldblomster second movement. The Berlin Phil played it recently and it was tremendous fun, but rather painful for the lips! Benny Moré Recordando

Benny Moré (vocals); Pérez Prado Orchestra et al RCA 41894-2

Benny Moré is a famous – if not the most famous – Cuban singer. For me he is the ultimate Cuban crooner. I am passionate about Cuban music and when I hear his distinctive voice and his fabulous big band I am transported into an opulent Havana nightclub in the 1940s. On this album he also performs with the ‘King of Mambo’, Pérez Prado. Benny makes me dance around the kitchen every time I listen to this album.

Sarah Willis’s Mozart y Mambo – Cuban Dances is out on Alpha Classics on 9 Sept