COMPOSERS: Fasch,Handel,Purcell,Telemann,Torelli
LABELS: Naxos
WORKS: Suite in D (Water Music)
PERFORMER: Niklas Eklund (trumpet) Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble/Nils-Erik Sparf
CATALOGUE NO: 8.553531
Although presenting a selection of the best-known works from the Baroque trumpet repertoire, the initial release in this welcome new Naxos series includes two ‘firsts’: the concertos by Molter and Fasch receive their premiere recordings on the natural trumpet. Paradoxically, the disc may appeal to those unimpressed by period-instrument performances, since the golden-voiced trumpet of Niklas Eklund sounds more akin to a modern piccolo trumpet than its forebear.
The recording balance makes the soloist rather too dominant. Together with insufficient variety of nuance and articulation, this makes for somewhat leaden and unsophisticated accounts. Still, a good introduction to the repertoire, especially at bargain price. Deborah Calland