The comparativist

A French horn rarely finds itself without a full orchestra by its side, but today Mr. Barry Lo gave his horn a lead role, with a little help of the accompaniment of talented Mrs. Chichi Li on the piano. Though they did play a few arrangements, they managed to find several ready-made pieces, like the aptly named «Sonata for horn and piano (op. 17)» which, as related by Mr. Li, was composed by Beethoven for his friend Giovanni Punto– thought after today’s execution, one must question the true nature of their relationship. «Intrada» by Otto Ketting, played solo, «Romance in F major (Op. 36)» of Camille Saint-Saëns, and Eugène Bozza's «Sûr les cimes» were amongst the others  songs shared today. I was looking forward to French horn classics like the Superman theme by John Williams, or the theme to «Star Trek: Voyager», but it wasn’t meant to be. I did learn that the horn must be a particularly fiddly instrument, as Mr. Li, with a dramatic flair, dexterously changed or re-arrange