''Trumpet Collection'' announces this CD's title modestly, but what an imaginitive collection it is, and very entertaining indeed, from first to last. Moreover, the recording is most naturally balanced and has remarkable presence and realism—one could believe the artists were at the end of one's room. Quite a lot of the programme offers accompaniments on the fortepiano, played with the most attractive articulation by Paul Nicholson (and surely ideally recorded). I had not realized this instrument could have such a strong and attractive personality but again and again its slightly dry timbre seems lust right as the backing for the solo playing. especially in the engaging items from Sir Henry Bishop. One of these, Thine for ever, a duet for soprano and trumpet written as a Donizetti mad scene, is actually scored for soprano and flute, and here the singing of Deborah Roberts fits the trumpet obbligato like a reverse-mirror image. She is a splendid artist. Her Monteverdi scena, Et e pur dunque vero is movingly sung and the Purcell aria, ''To arms, heroic prince'' and the lovely Alessandro Scarlatti Si suoni la tromba both offer a soaringly free line, pure, yet with not too white a vocal timbre and a perfect symbiosis with the trumpet. The opening pieces by Girolamo Fantini (the leading trumpeter of the Grand Duke of Tuscany) are simple and designed to show the timbre and effects of the early instrument, both open and muted. Later we are simply entertained by pieces like Koenig's Posthorn Galop, played with great flair, or Arban's Fantasia on Verdi's ''Rigoletto''.
Throughout the playing of Jonathan Impett on various instruments is a joy—never do we get the throttled effects familiar with some trumpet recordings using original instruments—and his upper tessitura and accuracy of intonation in the Scarlatti are amazing, to say nothing of the general finesse. Frescobaldi's Canzona is an attractive duet for trumpet and trombone with busy keyboard figuration in the background (this time a harpsichord) and again Paul Nicholson knows just what he is doing. A very generous and fascinating recital which should not be missed by anyone who likes the trumpet sound—there are many more ambitious collections featuring this instrument that are far less rewarding.'