Alison Balsom - Caprice: Trumpet Transcriptions

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2007-02-27 rating:
Alison Balsom, Caprice
Alison Balsom, Caprice

This is the third CD from Alison Balsom, released September 2006, again on the EMI Classics label and has since been awarded the title of 'Solo CD of the Year 2006' by Brass Band World magazine. Named after Paganini's `Caprice No. 24 (the fifth track on the album), this is a collection of widely varied pieces of work, only one of which was originally written for the trumpet. Almost the entire disc represents transcriptions of works for other solo instruments and orchestrations.

Starting with Mozart's familiar `Rondo alla turca' is a safe introduction to ease the listener into this sometimes uneasy collection. Opinions will be mixed, for Mozart's original version (piano sonata in A major K331) for piano/harpsichord is so recognisable for it's keyboard rendition that a trumpet transcription, and a very fast one at that, may be hard to adapt to. Love it or loathe it however, it demands admiration for its speed and virtuosity.

Next is `Libertango', the first track of two by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. This is a lively jazz/classical tango-style piece, and along with `Piazzolla' (track 18) I find a pleasing and surprising choice, given the musical style shown on Alison's first two CDs.

Other transcriptions, such as Swedish composer Oskar Lindberg's serenely beautiful `Andante' and French composer Jean-Baptiste Arban's lyrical `Variations on Casta Diva' are two contrasting pieces, the former showing subtlety while the latter is again pure virtuoso trumpet playing.

The title track `Caprice No. 24' is one of my favourites of the album, and along with Rachmaninov's `Vocalise', Mozart's `Der HolleRache' and Bach's Andante from `Violin Concerto No. 1' will probably be the most immediately accessible of this collection.

Variety, and my previous suggestion of uneasiness, comes in the form of Manuel de Falla's `Seven Popular Spanish Songs', orchestrated by Luciano Berio. Although I like these pieces, I think they create too much contrast with most of the other music on this album.

In summary, I love much of this album but think the range of styles, while comfortably handled by Alison's performance of trumpet, may not be so comfortable for the listener to accommodate and a slightly more themed collection may prove more popular. I was also slightly disappointed with the album cover photography. Given Alison Balsom's striking appearance on the EMI video promo for this album, from which the photo shoot was clearly taken, I think the cover artwork could have been so much better.

Alison Balsom fans will not be disappointed.



review by: andrewharrison_rules date: 2007-01-24 rating:
Delightful trumpet playing!
This album is a classic. From the dramatic opening of Mozart's 'Rondo alla turca' to the exquisite title track 'caprice' which captivates any fan of good classical music, she also does her 'transcriptions' ofach's first Violin Concerto - delightful! She is going to go far in her career! Her Classical Brit award is just the start of many good things to come for this young musician. It is so refreshing to see young talent come and produce good music for all to enjoy. Alison is a breath of fresh air for all!

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