Trumpeter Alison Balsom's bold and brilliant playing engenders a fresh-eared listening of the warhorse Haydn and Hummel concertos. Balsom's robust phrasing combined with a confidence that never turns cocky reminds us of the trumpet's history in battle and regalia. But it's not all fanfare and bluster as Balsom produces beautiful, round tone throughout the range, even in the instrument's challenging low notes. There's also much warmth and feeling in her playing, very different from the the reserved cool of Wynton Marsalis in his debut recording featuring these same works.
The program steps backward to the baroque era with the Torelli and Neruda concertos, both appealing works featuringRead more masterful trumpet writing. Again, Balsom dispatches these with winning panache. The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen provides bracing and lively accompaniment under Thomas Klug's leadership, something you can easily hear as EMI's vivid recording places Balsom in a natural-sounding perspective with the orchestra. There's plenty to enjoy here--certainly for trumpet aficionados, but those who just enjoy great music making will be pleased as well.
Concerto for Trumpet in E flat major, S 49/WoO 1by Johann Nepomuk Hummel Performer:
Alison Balsom (Trumpet)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
German Chamber Philharmonic Bremen
Period: Romantic Written: 1803; Vienna, Austria Length: 17 Minutes 15 Secs. Notes: Audio Engineer: Arne Akselberg. Audio Producer: John Pedersen.
2.
Concerto for Trumpet in E flat major, H 7e no 1by Franz Joseph Haydn Performer:
Alison Balsom (Trumpet)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
German Chamber Philharmonic Bremen
Period: Classical Written: 1796; Vienna, Austria Length: 14 Minutes 9 Secs. Notes: Audio Engineer: Arne Akselberg. Audio Producer: John Pedersen.
3.
Concerto for Trumpet in E flat majorby Johann Neruda Performer:
Alison Balsom (Trumpet)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
German Chamber Philharmonic Bremen
Period: Baroque Written: 18th Century; Germany Length: 14 Minutes 28 Secs. Notes: Audio Engineer: Arne Akselberg. Audio Producer: John Pedersen.
4.
Concerto for Trumpet in D majorby Giuseppe Torelli Performer:
Alison Balsom (Trumpet)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
German Chamber Philharmonic Bremen
Period: Baroque Written: Italy Length: 5 Minutes 57 Secs. Notes: Audio Engineer: Arne Akselberg. Audio Producer: John Pedersen.
Featured Sound Samples
Trumpet Concerto in D (Torelli): I. Allegro
Trumpet Concerto (Haydn): I. Allegro
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: ( 1 Customer Review )
BeautifulMay 18, 2016By J. Paluzzi (DENVER, CO)See All My Reviews"Woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't quiet my mind enough to get back to sleep, so I turned on Colorado Public Radio Classical. Any fan of trumpet knows that Hummel's Concerto in E flat major is how a trumpeter shows his or her chops. I have always been a fan of Wynton Marsalis, but Alison Balsom's performance absolutely rocks!"Report Abuse