Caprice - Alison Balsom

It is only natural that players of instruments with a limited repertoire should resort to transcriptions, citing a long line of arrangers from Bach to Liszt to Heifetz. However, the suitability of the material is as important as the skill of the transcriber, and you don't have to be a "purist" to object to some of Balsom's choices. Some of the transcriptions are her own, some are by Julian Milone, a violinist, who also provided the orchestrations of the non-orchestral accompaniments. Unfortunately they sound unnatural compared to Mozart's, in an aria from his Die Zauberflöte, and Bach's, in a movement of his A minor Violin Concerto. Two numbers are for trumpet alone: Paganini's 24th Caprice for violin, which keeps jumping from the highest to the lowest register, bringing out the worst of both, and Debussy's "Syrinx" for flute, which loses its languid character. The "Turkish Rondo" from Mozart's A major Piano Sonata is least satisfying: played in E-flat minor (instead of A minor), it sounds strident, and its breakneck pace destroys the original's grace and buoyancy. The arrangement often gives the melody to the orchestra and un-Mozartian virtuosic interjections to the trumpet. De Falla's Seven Popular Spanish Songs, orchestrated by Luciano Berio complete with castanets, come off better, and not surprisingly, two pieces by trumpet players are most successful: Jean-Baptiste Arban's Variations on Bellini's "Casta Diva," and the Nocturne from Henri Tomasi's Trumpet Concerto. Slow, dreamy and impressionistic, the Concerto is the only "original" piece on the program, and the listener wishes the disc had included all of it. On this record, the playing's the thing. Alison Balsom is a stunning virtuoso; she commands a huge register, a large range of dynamics and colors, and can achieve hair-raising speeds with ease and clarity. This is her second CD; the first was an all-Bach album. --Edith Eisler Amazon.com

Amazing !

Alison is probably World's current best trumpet soloist. She makes me shiver just as Maurice André did when I went to one of his concerts, almost 40 years ago.
Good girl, Alison, wonderful soloist, I love your music. November 7, 2008

my favorite cd

I'd like to encourage anyone to try this cd, it's my favorite cd that I've owned. I like many genres of music, especially classical with its wide range of "musical colors" without words getting in the way. Classical is truly the most widely expressive in my opinion. This cd by Alison Balsom is most incredible to me each time I play it. Words aren't enough to describe it, you have to experience it. If I had to pick one word, it would be "sublime!" October 12, 2008

Excellent trumpet music

She did a good job, but I do not know much about classical music. Saw this on youtube, heard it, I liked it. So I bought it. April 7, 2008

Dazzling!

Titling a collection of works CAPRICE ('a disposition to do things impulsively') is entirely in keeping with the magnetism and flair of the talented, beautiful, and intensely musical trumpeter Alison Balsom. For this listener the introduction to Miss Balsom was a recent Los Angeles Philharmonic performance of contemporary works, the one being played by Miss Balsom was the exceedingly beautiful and treacherously difficult Bernd Alois Zimmermann 'Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra: Nobody knows the trouble I see'. Witnessing the live performance of this gifted lass resulted in the immediate purchase of her recordings.

CAPRICE is a terrific collection of works arranged for trumpet and while such collections don't appeal on every level, for this recording Balsom makes it work. She is equally at home with Bach (of course), Mozart, and Paganini as she is with Debussy, Rachmaninov, de Falla, the infectious Piazzolla, Lindberg, and Tomasi. It is a varied recital, ably assisted by Edward Gardner conducting the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, and while not every 'transcription' feels right, the performances ring with an authenticity because of Balsom's assured technique.

With the technical skill Balsom possesses and the flair for interaction with not only the orchestra but also with the audience it seems obvious that she is secure on the ladder of success. She is an intelligent musician and a dazzling spirit! Grady Harp, January 08 January 11, 2008

Beyond the Baroque

Fans of the classical trumpet will find a large repertoire from the Baroque era and a few major concertos from the Classical period (Haydn, Hummel), but very little written for trumpet from the Romantic period and thereafter. To remedy this problem, virtuoso trumpeters of the past, such as Jean-Baptiste Arban and Rafael Mendez, transcribed pieces not originally written for the trumpet. On this CD, Alison Balsom follows in this time-honored tradition, making available transcriptions that supplement the regular trumpet repertoire. Only one selection comes from the Baroque period, not one that was originally written for trumpet, but a transcription of the second movement of Bach's first Violin Concerto. Mozart provides two selections from the Classical period, but most of the selections come from the Romantic era (Paganini, Bellini, Debussy, Rachmaninov, de Falla, Lindberg) or the 20th century (Tomasi, Piazzolla). Any trumpet fan who has wished to hear something a little more modern than a Baroque trumpet concerto will be grateful for this CD.

Only one of these selections, the second movement of Tomasi's trumpet concerto, was originally written for trumpet. The rest are transcriptions made by either Julian Milone or Balsom herself. All are well done.

Balsom gives a highly satisfying and enjoyable performance of these selections. She is a virtuoso trumpeter of the highest caliber. Her technique, tone, and musicality leave nothing to be desired. For most of the selections, she plays a C trumpet, though for two pieces she uses an E flat trumpet and for two others a piccolo trumpet. The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra provides admirable support. August 14, 2007

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