Composer: Alexander Grigori Arutiunian, Dmitri Shostakovich, Mieczyslaw Weinberg
Performer: Paul Merkelo, Jae-Hyuck Cho
Orchestra: Russian National Orchestra
Conductor: Hans Graf
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Catalogue: 8579117
Release: 2022
Size: 2.06 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Arutiunian: Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra
Weinberg: Trumpet Concerto in B flat major, Op. 94
02. I. Etudes
03. II. Episodes
04. III. Fanfares
Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor for piano, trumpet & strings, Op. 35
05. I. Allegro moderato
06. II. Lento
07. III. Moderato
08. IV. Allegro con brio
The trumpet has had many concertos written for it by composers from the Soviet era and beyond. Appealing in its unabashed melodies and colourfully nostalgic feel, Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto became popular in the West, while Weinberg’s emotive Trumpet Concerto in B flat major was summed up by Shostakovich as a ‘symphony for trumpet and orchestra’. Shostakovich’s own playful Concerto No. 1, Op. 35 is recorded here with Timofei Dokschizer’s extended trumpet part, bringing it closer to the Baroque ‘double concerto’ model that the composer may initially have intended. The three works featured on this recording each has a connection with virtuoso trumpeter Timofei Dokshizer, who commissioned and premiered a succession of such pieces. A major attraction for this release is Paul Merkelo playing Shostakovich’s extremely popular Piano Concerto No. 1 (which also features acclaimed pianist Jae-Hyuck Cho) in a version with archival cadenzas and ornamentation by Timofei Dokschizer.