Jubilo
Track-listing at end of review
Alison Balsom (trumpet)
Academy of Ancient Music/Pavlo Beznosiuk
Tom Etheridge (organ)
Choir of King’s College Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury
rec. 2015/16, St. Jude-on-the-Hill, London; King’s College, Cambridge
WARNER CLASSICS 9029592465 [54.15]
Celebrated trumpeter Alison Balsom follows her last Warner Classics album of
twentieth and twenty-first century works for trumpet and piano titled
‘Légende’ (review) with a new release, ‘Jubilo’, a celebratory programme of Baroque music selected for the festive season. The Baroque era was a golden period for trumpet compositions, with works here for both liturgical service and secular use at court.
For the scores by Fasch, Torelli and Corelli accompanied by period instrument ensemble Academy of Ancient Music (AAM) under the direction of Pavlo Beznosiuk, Balsom plays the valveless natural trumpet. The remaining pieces by J.S. Bach are accompanied by solo organ and, for a single work with the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge and organ, Balsom has chosen the modern trumpet. The programme is laid out with alternate works played with the natural and modern trumpet.
Especially enjoyable is the Fasch Trumpet Concerto in D major from the 1740s, with its glorious central Largo, such a fresh and invigorating score. It’s always a joy to hear Corelli’s ‘Christmas Concerto’ composed around 1690 for Christmas night with its comforting bucolic appeal. Throughout, Balsom is given lively and highly polished support from the AAM. The undoubted highlight of the album is Bach’s celebrated Chorale – Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, which sounds quite magnificent with Balsom joined by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge and organist Tom Etheridge.
Direct, fluid and unfussy, with impeccable virtuosity, Balsom is in commanding form during this album of Christmas-themed Baroque works. I have seen trumpet virtuosi Håkan Hardenberger and Tine Thing Helseth in concert recently and, combined with the talents of Alison Balsom, the world of the classical trumpet is in marvellous shape.
Across two noted recording venues the engineering team has achieved a consistent sound quality that is reasonably close, bright, clear and well balanced. Helpful and informative is the booklet essay written by Andrew Stewart, together with a short note from Balsom. A minor grumble I have concerns the rather short playing time. The Warner Classics album is available in the standard jewel case format which I have here or a ‘limited edition casebound deluxe’ option on 0190295925116.
Michael Cookson
Track Listing
Johann Friedrich FASCH (1688-1758)
1-3. Trumpet Concerto in D major FWV L:D1 ed. Edward H. Tarr [5.58]
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
4. In dulce jubilo BWV729 [2.59]
5. Meine Seele erhebt den Herren ("My soul doth magnify the Lord") BWV 648 [1.58]
Giuseppe TORELLI (1658-1709) ed. Edward H. Tarr
6-9. Suonata con stromenti e tromba G.1 (Sonata in D major) [7.30]
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
10. Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten ("Who allows God alone to rule him") BWV 647 [3.36]
11. Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben BWV 147: Chorale – Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring [5.42]
12. Wo soll ich fliehen hin hin ("Whither shall I flee?") BWV 646 [1.53]
Arcangelo CORELLI (1653-1713)
13-18. Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.8 “Christmas Concerto” arr. Simon Wright [13.23]
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
19. Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 649 [2.46]
20. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645 [4.27]
21. Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter auf Erden BWV 650 [3.58]
Alison Balsom (natural trumpet)
Academy of Ancient Music/Pavlo Beznosiuk (tracks 1-3, 6-9, 13-18)
rec. 10, 11, 12 June 2016 St Jude-on-the-Hill, London, (tracks 1-3, 6-9, 13-18)
Alison Balsom (modern trumpet)
Stephen Cleobury, organ (tracks 4, 5, 10-12, 19-21)
rec. June 2015 King’s College, Cambridge (tracks 4, 5, 10-12, 19-21)
Alison Balsom (modern trumpet)
The Choir of King’s College Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury
Tom Etheridge, organ (track 11)
rec. January 2016 King’s College, Cambridge (track 11)
