Customer Reviews

Sergei Nakariakov - Carmen Fantasy

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I could go on for days about each track on this disc. Several tracks contain sections that feature music so hard to play - this is the first (and maybe last) time these pieces have been recorded on the trumpet. Who else can double-tongue Paganini's "Moto Perpetuo" while circular breathing? Nakariakov reminds us of his deeper side through his beautiful performance of "The Swan." I have played this disc so many times that I am surprised it still functions. A MUST, I repeat, A MUST for all trumpet players, serious musicians, and everyone else too!

After listening to countless numbers of CD's of trumpet players, Sergei Nakariakov takes the trumpet to a totally new level. Sergei is a true virtuoso and genius on the trumpet. His demonstration of his triple tounging and double tounging along with his absolute perfection of cleanliness of the notes are un-paralleled to any I have ever heard. Unlike most trumpet players Sergei even recorded straight through his pieces with no editing, except to take out the breaths in the last piece on the CD (Moto Perpetuo). Sergei truly takes the trumpet to a new level with his technical perfection. If you are a trumpet player of ANY LEVEL this CD demonstrates another side to the trumpet that is virtually left untouched by many.

Danny Popov Athens, GA University of Georgia Trumpet performance major and student of Fred Mills, founding member and former lead trumpet of the Canadian Brass for 24 years.

This album features Russian trumpet virtuoso Sergei Nakariakov playing a very wide variety of virtuoso music not only for trumpet, but violin, cello, and voice, among others. Sergei recorded this when he was only seventeen or eighteen years old, and when I had finished listening to it, I was shocked at how such a young person was able to have complete control over these very technically demanding pieces. Perhaps the most notable piece on here is Pagini's "Moto Perpetuo" for violin and guitar (or orchestra). The double-tonguing and circular breathing he uses on this piece is almost as impressive as when Rafael Mendez, the other great virtuoso trumpeter, did it many years ago. The title song, Camren Fantasie, is also good for people who know a bit about Bizet's famous opera "Carmen". "Le Cygne" by Saint-Saëns is beautifully done, and the caprice for violin solo really allows you to hear Nakariakov's embauchre and tone quality. Also, the classic "Zigeurweisen" piece is played with great enthusiasm as another great virtuoso trumpet piece. I would recommend this album to any fan of classical music, trumpet music, and definitely a must for all trumpet players. This is one of Nakariokov's best albums, in my opinion, and even if you don't know much about classical music, you will still be impressed by the extremely gifted talent of this young man.

I thought I should correct something a previous reviewer said in comparing Nakariakov to Mendez. A little known fact about the Marsalis and Mendez recordings of Moto Perpetuo is that they were spliced together. I listened to the Mendez recording for years not realizing this, but discovered this information in an online trumpet forum, apparently verified by his trumpet playing twin sons.

You will find many magnificent recording artists on any instrument imaginable. I find Sergei Nakariakov to be one of those artists and the example you are considering buying is a recording done when he was, if I remember correctly, 16 years old. I was introduced to the CD by one of my former teachers, who said - "who do you think this is?" and then put on Moto Perpetuo. I've heard (and own) several versions, done on violin, cello, clarinet, and both trumpet versions I knew of (Raphael Mendez and Wynton Marsalis), but this had a different quality - the inflection of the performance was incredible! I thought, perhaps, that Maurice Andre might have released a version - then he told me it was a 16 year old Russian trumpet player! The teacher I speak of was quite a trumpet player in his own right, having been lead at MGM in the 50's and 60's, and he was there when Mendez did his recording of Moto Perpetuo, and here he was saying this "kid" did pretty well!

If you have not heard of Sergei Nakariakov and you're a trumpet player, shame on you - buy every one of his recordings without delay and LISTEN!

If you are not a trumpet player and you appreciate great artistry, buy all of his recordings and ENJOY! He is, without question, one of the great virtuosos of the 21st century!!

We will probably never know how Sergei would have evolved on his first instrument the pianoforte.
However, his talent on the trumpet is an enviable gift. Also, his choice of material makes for an overall good investment of time and money.. Ralph Fraser

Sergei Nakariakov's talent is immense. I am currently listening to as many trumpet virtuosos as possible and he is certainly in the top ranks. But his work leaves me wanting something more. I judge all great trumpet players by the standard set by the Mexican trumpet player, Rafael Mendez. Mendez always left you believing he had done his absolute best on a piece. He always left you with the sense that his respect for the music came before his virtuoisity, that is, his musicality was paramount to his urge to show his trumpet talent. Nakariakov does not do this. He displays his talent first,the music comes second. Nowhere is the more evident than on Moto Perpetuo. I know of only two other recordings by trumpet players of this piece written by Paganini to show off the violin. Mendez, on The Trumpet Magic of Rafael Mendez, does an extraordinary job while Wynton Marsalis, on Classic Wynton, does not even attempt to tongue this exemplar of stacatto. He simply slurs his way through. Nakariakov does tongue and he manages to hit all the notes, but not with the precision, authority, and love that Mendez displays.In the upper ranges, Nakariakov bleets and on the lower,he blats. Also, Nakariakov's control fails at times. He seems to run out of gas about half-way through Moto Perpetuo. Mendez maintains his high level of energy and control all the way through. I know Mendez was the first trumpet player to be able to inhale through his nose while he played out through his lips. He does not pause to breathe during Motto Perpetuo. I do not know if Nakariakov does this. I doubt it.I have heard that Mendez practised for over two and a half years before he recorded Motto Perpetuo. I cannot imageine Nakariakov doing this. Check out Mendez. Nakariakov attempts many of the numbers that Rafael Mendez first recorded in his attempt to show the trumpet as the equal of the violin in symphonic play. Nakariakov clearly is competing with Mendez. But Mendez simply did it better.