Caprice Alison Balsom

• 1 Sonata in A Major, K. 331: III. Rondo alla turca 03:07
• 2 Libertango 04:34
• 3 Gammel fäbodpsalm från Dalarna: Andante 04:10
• 4 Arban / Milone: Variations on Bellini's Norma 06:26
• 5 24 Caprices, Op. 1: No. 24 in A Minor 04:20
• 6 El paño moruno 01:16
• 7 Seguidilla murciana 01:14
• 8 Asturiana 02:09
• 9 Jota 03:06
• 10 Nana 01:28
• 11 Canción 01:04
• 12 Polo 01:20
• 13 14 Songs, Op. 34: No. 14 Vocalise 05:03
• 14 Die Zauberflöte K. 620 'The Magic Flute': Der Hölle Rache 02:58
• 15 Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041: II. Andante 06:13
• 16 Syrinx 02:43
• 17 Trumpet Concerto: II. Nocturne 04:35
• 18 Esqualo 04:00
• Total Runtime 59:46

Info for Caprice

Voted Young British Classical Performer of the Year at the 2006 Classical Brits, Alison Balsom follows her critically-acclaimed album Bach: Works for Trumpet with Caprice, a novel and demanding programme of specially arranged popular classical works.

The album features sparkling transcriptions of Mozart's 'Rondo alla Turca' and the Queen of the Night's aria (from The Magic Flute) as well as the scintillating 'Variations on Bellini's Norma' by the French virtuoso Jean-Baptiste Arban. Amongst the more lyrical numbers, Balsom plays arrangements of Rachmaninov's haunting Vocalise and the exquisite Nocturne from Tomasi's Trumpet Concerto. She also brings her unique sound to two pieces played by the trumpet alone: Paganini's well-known violin Caprice No.24 and Debussy's Syrinx.

“The young British trumpeter Alison Balsom is a real star: resplendent and well-varied tone, crisp attack, absolute ease of production throughout the range.” (BBC Music Magazine)

“What comes across is Balsom's sheer exuberance and joy in making music. Be astonished at the variety of moods the trumpet is capable of.” (Classic FM Magazine)

“In the Latin-inspired pieces, Balsom's awareness of the choreographic suggestiveness in the raunchy Piazzolla and smouldering Falla brings exhilarating freedom and colour. …another infectious performance from a dazzling young British talent in fine form, one whose programming ideas and emerging musical personality go from strength to strength.” (Gramophone Magazine)

Alison Balsom, trumpet
Göteborgs Symfoniker
Edward Gardner, conductor

Alison Balsom
has cemented an international reputation as one of classical music’s great ambassadors. She has been honoured with numerous awards by Classic FM, Gramophone and Echo Klassik and in 2009 she became the first ever Briton to be crowned “Female Artist of the Year” at the Classical BRITs. In September 2009 Alison headlined classical music’s most celebrated concert – The Last Night of the BBC Proms – which reached its biggest ever global audience of an estimated 150 million.

Recent and upcoming highlights include appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi. Alison also looks forward to embarking on major international tours with I Musici di Roma, the Scottish Ensemble and Alison’s own Balsom Ensemble in 10/11 and beyond.

While represented by the Young Concert Artists Trust, Alison caught the ear of EMI Classics with whom she records exclusively. Her internationally celebrated Bach Trumpet and Organ disc of 2005 was quickly followed by the Caprice album which won her further critical acclaim. Her third album, featuring the great pillars of the trumpet repertoire, the concertos of Haydn and Hummel, firmly established her as the world's leading trumpeter. Her eagerly awaited follow up album which was released in autumn 2010 to great critical acclaim includes a selection of Italian Baroque Concertos

Under the auspices of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme, Alison performed at the Wigmore Hall and with all of the BBC orchestras.

Alison studied trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music, the Paris Conservatoire, and with Håkan Hardenberger. She was previously a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Alison was a concerto finalist in the BBC Young Musician competition in 1998 and received the Feeling Musique Prize for quality of sound in the 4th Maurice André International Trumpet Competition. She is Visiting Professor of Trumpet to the Guildhall School of Music. Alison performs a wide range of recital and concerto repertoire, from Albinoni to Zimmermann and performs on both modern and baroque trumpets.

Booklet for Caprice