Martin Owen
Horn Player
Forthcoming Events (1)
Biography
Martin Owen is regarded as one of Europe’s leading horn players, appearing as a soloist and chamber musician all around the world. Martin currently holds the positions of Principal Horn at the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia and the Haffner Wind Ensemble, having served as Principal Horn of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and as Solo Horn of the Berliner Philharmoniker on a temporary contract.
He has collaborated with conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Edward Gardner, Sakari Oramo, Sir Roger Norrington, John Wilson, Jiří Bělohlávek, Dalia Stasevska, Oliver Knussen, David Robertson and Martyn Brabbins in performances of solo works by Mozart, Richard Strauss, Schumann, Weber, Messiaen, Britten, Elliott Carter, Oliver Knussen and Thea Musgrave with the BBCSO, RPO, BBC Philharmonic, Orquesta Nacional de España, The Hallé, New World Symphony, Nurnberg Staatsphilharmonie, Bergen Philharmonic, Trondheim Symphony, Bucharest Philharmonic, Ensemble Modern, Aalborg Symfoniorkester and Britten Sinfonia.
Martin has recorded concertos for many labels including Linn, RPO, Dutton, BBC, Signum Classics and Bridge records.
In 2023, Martin began a relationship with Chandos records, recording Strauss, Schumann and Weber concerti with the BBC Philharmonic, then Ruth Gipps’ horn concerto in 2024, also with the BBCPO. Trios by Brahms/Ligeti/Mozart with Francesca Dego, violin, and Alessandro Taverna, piano, followed later that year. His partnership with Francesca and Alessandro continues with the world premier of Nicola Campogrande trio for violin, horn, piano and orchestra, with performances with ORT orchestra, and Teatro Comunale di Bologna.
In 2025, Martin was invited to participate in the inaugural World Horn Summit in Japan, as part of a star studded horn octet from around the world. A live recording by King Records of this event will be released January 2026.
Current projects include Strauss Second concerto with both ORT and Orchestra Sinfonico di Milano, plus concerts of all the Mozart horn concerti with Manchester Camerata/Gábor Takács-Nagy – a recording or which will be released for Chandos in May 2026. A recital disc of 19th century horn music follows next year.
Martin Owen is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, where he is Alfred Brain Professor of Horn, and is French horn tutor to the European Union Youth Orchestra. He has appeared on hundreds of film and television soundtracks- Star Wars, Harry Potter, James Bond and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, to name a few, plus a plethora of Marvel movies! Martin lives in the Surrey Hills with his violinist wife, Anna.
Photo by courtesy of Davide Cerati
Quotes
Owen’s playing is a luxury for the ear
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Martin Owen brings a Dennis Brain-like poetry to his playing
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Martin Owen’s horn playing is rich and expressive in the Serenade [Britten], and he manages the haunting, swooping octaves with apparent ease.
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
Interstellar Call, the solo-horn movement [from Messiaen’s Des Canyons Aux Etoiles] was made into a masterly tour de force by Owen. Prom 13: BBCSO/Oramo
THE GUARDIAN