One has to read the fine print to find out, but
Magic Trumpet is a compilation of recordings by trumpeter
Alison Balsom, dating as far back as 2005 and extending forward to 2018. Some may avoid the collection for this reason, seeking a more coherent and curated program, but this would be a mistake. It's not only that
Magic Trumpet serves as an introduction to
Balsom's talents, although it could certainly be one for newcomers to her recordings. The key point here is that
Balsom, although some may exceed her skills in particular repertories, has perhaps the widest range of any trumpeter on the scene today, and this release lets listeners hear a lot of it. She can produce an appropriately burnished tone in
Bach's "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" from the Cantata No. 147, BWV 147, and can avoid overwhelming chamber players in the first movement of the Trio Sonata in C major, BWV 529.
Balsom is usually not noted for sheer virtuosity, but the compilers have found some excellent examples of just that. Consider the solo trumpet arrangement (by
Balsom herself, like several of the pieces here) of the Badinerie from
Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 2, BWV 1067, boldly forcing
Balsom's trumpet to the high reaches of its capabilities. The Caprice No. 24 in A minor of
Paganini loses some of its challenges when remade for trumpet, but it has plenty to spare. There is also something amusing about hearing the Queen of the Night's aria "Der Hölle Rache," from Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, of
Mozart played on an instrument whose capabilities it fits rather than being sung by an intentionally uncomfortable voice.
Balsom settles easily into the smoky tango atmosphere of
Astor Piazzolla's Oblivion and tones things down for the semi-popular Les feuilles mortes of
Joseph Kosma (this is as close as she comes to crossover music). The mastering engineers do the best they can with such a diverse set of sound sources, and the result will be delightful for
Balsom newcomers and fans alike.