Rolf Smedvig: Virtuoso

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Vincenzo Bellini (Composer), Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Maria Theresia von Paradis (Composer), Antony Holborne (Composer), Johann Nepomuk Hummel (Composer), Tomaso Albinoni (Composer), Alexander Borodin (Composer), Camille Saint-Saens (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Giuseppe Tartini (Composer), Bedrich Smetana (Composer), Rolf Smedvig (Composer), Rafael Mendez (Composer), Manuel de Falla (Composer), Jahja Ling (Conductor), Scottish Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Michael Murray (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Michael Murray
• Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Jahja Ling
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Vincenzo Bellini, Franz Joseph Haydn, Maria Theresia von Paradis, Antony Holborne, et al.
• Audio CD (January 25, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B00004C4MM
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,662 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #47 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > Russian
  • #80 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Brass > Trumpet
  • #93 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Concertos > Concerto Grossi

Track Listings

1. Allegro Assai

2. Allegro

3. Finale: Allegro

4. Sicilienne

5. Gigue

6. Badinerie

7. Rondo

8. Allegro

9. Polovtsian Dances

10. Danse Bacchanale

11. Rondo Alla Turka

12. Allegro Grazioso

13. Dance Of The Comedians

14. Grave

15. Sibley Sanctus Lydian

16. Romanza

17. Ritual Fire Dance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine introduction, with some quibbles, October 25, 2000

By 

Hal Lancer (Deerfield, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rolf Smedvig: Virtuoso (Audio CD)

"Virtuoso" is a compilation CD, a shot at a "best of" classical trumpet player Rolf Smedvig. Seven of the tracks on this CD are drawn from three CDs Rolf Smedvig recorded for Telarc as a trumpet soloist (two with orchestras, one with pipe organ). The other ten tracks were taken from six of the many CDs Smedvig recorded as lead trumpeter with Empire Brass, Rolf's evolving brass quintet supplemented, at times, with other instruments. If you already have several Smedvig or Empire Brass CDs, compare the track listings for this CD with those you own before deciding to buy "Virtuoso". Sadly, there are no new previously unreleased bonus tracks included for long-time fans. Also, this full-price compilation CD clocks in under an hour; Telarc could have easily chosen an additional quarter-hour of material at little additional corporate expense.

I was very familiar with all the Empire Brass tracks included on this CD, but not with the solo tracks which aptly demonstrate the lovely lyrical warmth in Smedvig's playing. It's always been there when he plays with Empire Brass, but it's more striking in his soloist performances. He draws on personal romantic sensibilities in his interpretations without ever making those works that are baroque or classical sound like romantic period pieces, a tough row to hoe. Particularly haunting for me was the unfamiliar Maria-Theresa von Paradis' "Sicilienne".

The Empire Brass selections, however, puzzled me. The lightning-fast last minute of the Borodin, off-and-on brief sections of the Saint-Saens, and all of the Mozart track lack the effortless rhythmic fluidity that is found in virtuosi playing and can be heard in many orchestral or piano performances of these works. This small flaw these tracks share is particularly highlighted by their consecutive sequence on this CD. Three selections from "Firedance", while fairly good, are arguably not Rolf's or EB's best performances on that CD or others. And "Sibley Sanctus Lydian", from "Passage", which features an uncredited melodic line better known as the trumpet solo Respighi employed for his Roman pines near the catacombs, is well-played but a relatively easy solo for trumpeters. My Empire Brass choices to make the case for Rolf Smedvig as virtuoso would have been very different.

Still, this CD is recommended, particularly for the seven Smedvig soloist cuts (1-4, 6-7 and 12), and for three very strong Smedvig/Empire Brass tracks (5, 8 and 13) that are included here. For any one who's not familiar with Rolf Smedvig, "Virtuoso" is a fine introduction that will whet the appetite for more.