Paul Merkelo, Jae-Hyuck Cho, Russian National Orchestra, Hans Graf - Alexander Arutiunian; Mieczysl

The trumpet has had many concertos written for it by composers from the Soviet era and beyond. Appealing in its unabashed melodies and colourfully nostalgic feel, Arutiunian�s Trumpet Concerto became popular in the West, while Weinberg�s emotive Trumpet Concerto in B flat major was summed up by Shostakovich as a �symphony for trumpet and orchestra�. Shostakovich�s own playful Concerto No. 1, Op. 35 is recorded here with Timofei Dokschizer�s extended trumpet part, bringing it closer to the Baroque �double concerto� model that the composer may initially have intended. The three works featured on this recording each has a connection with virtuoso trumpeter Timofei Dokshizer, who commissioned and premiered a succession of such pieces. A major attraction for this release is Paul Merkelo playing Shostakovich�s extremely popular Piano Concerto No. 1 (which also features acclaimed pianist Jae-Hyuck Cho) in a version with archival cadenzas and ornamentation by Timofei Dokschizer.