Alison Balsom: Légende
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Tom Poster, Paul Hindemith, Peter Maxwell Davies, George Gershwin, Alexandr Goedicke, Maurice Ravel, Jean Françaix, George Enescu, Tom Poster & Alison Balsom, Jerome (David) Kern, Leonard Bernstein
Genre:
Chamber
Label: Warner Classics
Magazine Review Date: 07/2016
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 61
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 9029 59877-2

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Sonatine |
Jean Françaix, Composer
Alison Balsom, Trumpet Jean Françaix, Composer Tom Poster, Composer |
Legend |
George Enescu, Composer
Alison Balsom, Trumpet George Enescu, Composer Tom Poster, Composer |
Concert Etude |
Alexandr Goedicke, Composer
Alexandr Goedicke, Composer Alison Balsom, Trumpet Tom Poster, Composer |
Farewell to Stromness |
Peter Maxwell Davies, Composer
Alison Balsom, Trumpet Peter Maxwell Davies, Composer Tom Poster, Composer |
Sonata for Trumpet and Piano |
Paul Hindemith, Composer
Alison Balsom, Trumpet Paul Hindemith, Composer Tom Poster, Composer |
Sonatine for Piano, Movement: Minuet |
Maurice Ravel, Composer
Maurice Ravel, Composer Tom Poster, Composer |
The Thoughts of Dr May |
Tom Poster & Alison Balsom, Composer
Alison Balsom, Trumpet Tom Poster, Composer Tom Poster & Alison Balsom, Composer |
Rondo for Lifey |
Leonard Bernstein, Composer
Alison Balsom, Trumpet Leonard Bernstein, Composer Tom Poster, Composer |
Oh, Kay!, Movement: Someone to watch over me |
George Gershwin, Composer
Alison Balsom, Trumpet George Gershwin, Composer Tom Poster, Composer |
Swing Time, Movement: The Way You Look Tonight |
Jerome (David) Kern, Composer
Alison Balsom, Trumpet Jerome (David) Kern, Composer Tom Poster, Composer |
Author: Richard Bratby
In short, it seems to be a selection from Balsom and Poster’s recital repertoire, and it’s an attractive – if eclectic – one. You can tell these players enjoy each other’s company, and that pays dividends in the more heavyweight numbers: listen to the purpose with which they drive the first movement of the Hindemith forwards. But they make a lovely sound together too. I enjoyed the sweetness of Balsom’s muted tone in the central Sarabande of the Françaix and the way that even while articulating brilliantly through Goedicke’s Concert-étude, she can make her lines sing.
The Minuet from Ravel’s Sonatine (the only solo piano item, presumably included as a nod to the pair’s recital programmes) is gracefully done – and Poster conjures up a wonderfully smoky haze at the opening of his own transcription of ‘The way you look tonight’. It’s a relaxed end to the disc, and the burst of applause at the close comes as a surprise. Nothing about the sound quality, or the unforced naturalness of the pair’s joint musicality, gives you any cause to realise that it was mainly recorded live.
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