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Paul Merkelo

ARUTIUNIAN-SHOSTAKOVICH-WEINBERG Trumpet Concertos

Naxos
Release Date: October 14, 2022

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Teaser
Shostakovich Concerto for Trumpet and Piano
Interview w/ Winnipeg's Classic107
Interview w/ WGTE
WGBH Music: Trumpeter Paul Merkelo plays Enesco's "Legend"
1 Alexander Arutiunian: Trumpet Concerto  
2 Mieczyslaw Weinberg: Trumpet Concerto in B flat major, Op. 94I. Etudes  
3 II. Episodes  
4 III. Fanfares  
5 Dmitry Shostakovich: Concerto No. 1, Op. 35, for Piano, Trumpet and Strings I. Allegro moderato  
6 II. Lento  
7 III. Moderato  
8 IV. Allegro con brio  
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The three works featured on this recording each has a connection with the trumpeter Timofei Dokshizer. Born in Nizhyn (in the Chernihiv region, now Ukraine) on 13 December 1921, he commenced his concert activity on All-Union Radio when barely 20, and then, in 1947, gained first prize at a competition in Prague. Although he enjoyed a notable career as soloist, he was also for many years principal trumpeter with the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, from which his distinctive tone can be heard on many commercial and archival recordings of the operatic and ballet repertoire. He pursued a distinguished academic career, being professor at the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow for a quarter-century and giving classes at the International Trumpet Academy in Bremen throughout the 1990s. He died in Vilnius on 16 March 2005, having done much to expand both the solo and the concertante repertoire for his instrument.

Although its repertoire is limited by comparison with other woodwind and brass instruments, the trumpet has had numerous concertos written for it from composers of the Soviet era and beyond. Much of the motivation in this must lie with Dokshizer, who not only commissioned and premiered a succession of such pieces but also made a notable number of recordings (not least of the two ‘original’ concertos found here) on which his distinctive style of playing can be said to have established the interpretative parameters for those who followed in his wake.
 

  • Paul Merkelo discusses the Trumpet Concertos by Arutiunian, Shostakovich and Weinberg with VPM
    Posted At: September 23, 2023 12:00 AM
    Paul Merkelo has been hailed as ‘the new Maurice André’ by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and is recognized as ‘a spectacular soloist... a most impressive master of his instrument’ (Montreal Gazette) who ‘knows no limits’ (Der Spiegel online - Germany) with ‘unusual lyrical gifts’ (Gramophone). Principal trumpet with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 1995, he has been featured frequently...
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  • 1260WSHU 'Beautiful Music feature' highlights Giuseppe Tartini's Trumpet Concerto, played by Paul Merkelo with OSM
    Posted At: July 8, 2023 12:00 AM
    Paul Merkelo is recognized as ‘a spectacular soloist... a most impressive master of his instrument’ (Montreal Gazette) who ‘knows no limits’ (Der Spiegel online - Germany) with ‘unusual lyrical gifts’ (Gramophone).Paul Merkelo has been hailed as ‘the new Maurice André’ by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and is recognized as ‘a spectacular soloist... a most impressive master of his instrument’ (Mont...
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  • Paul Merkelo chats with 'The Classical Station: WCPE' about his stunning Trumpet Concertos album
    Posted At: April 20, 2023 12:00 AM
    Highly acclaimed as a soloist, Paul Merkelo has been principal trumpet with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 1995. He made his New York debut at the Lincoln Center with the New World Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas in 1998, and in 1999 was appointed Canadian musical ambassador to China for the inauguration of Montreal Park in Shanghai. He has worked with conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, C...
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  • Paul Merkelo's stunning trumpet concertos
    Posted At: March 20, 2023 12:00 AM
    Hailed as ‘the new Maurice André’ by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Paul Merkelo is a spectacular soloist who the Montreal Gazette calls ‘a most impressive master of his instrument.’ As principal trumpet of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Mr. Merkelo was the first member of the orchestra invited to record a solo album with the ensemble: ‘French Trumpet Concertos’ under the direction of maes...
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  • Paul Merkelo's trio of Trumpet Concertos honoring: Timofei Dokshizer is a vitally important album / Classical Explorer
    Posted At: January 11, 2023 12:00 AM
    Classical Explorer's Colin Clarke writes…..I remember hearing the Trumpet Concerto by Alexander Arutunian (1920-2012) many years ago in  church in Manchester with the BBC Philharmonic on a lunchtime concer. The piece impressed me then, as it does now. It nestes on this disc with two other concertos - all of them have connections with one of the rgeatest of trupeters, the Russian player Timofei Dokshize...
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  • Paul Merkelo's new 'Concertos' album demonstrates the versatility and subtlety of the trumpet / theWholeNote
    Posted At: December 13, 2022 12:00 AM
    The three works featured on this recording each has a connection with the trumpeter Timofei Dokshizer. Born in Nizhyn (in the Chernihiv region, now Ukraine) on 13 December 1921, he commenced his concert activity on All-Union Radio when barely 20, and then, in 1947, gained first prize at a competition in Prague. Although he enjoyed a notable career as soloist, he was also for many years principal trumpeter w...
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  • Pristine intonation, natural brilliance, and genuine artistry from Paul Merkelo on new 'Trumpet Concertos' album / EarRelevant
    Posted At: November 8, 2022 12:00 AM
    EarRelevant's Giorgio Koukl writes….Trumpet concertos are, despite the instrument’s limitations per se, quite frequent. Still, little is left when considering the romantic and modern eras once the many baroque productions are filtered out.The brilliant Canadian trumpet player Paul Merkelo is proposing in this highly spectacular installment three composers from the Soviet era, some well-known like Shostakovi...
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  • Paul Merkelo - Arutiunian, Weinberg, Shostakovich Trumpet Concertos is the WFMT: Featured New Release
    Posted At: October 19, 2022 12:00 AM
    The three works featured on this recording each has a connection with the trumpeter Timofei Dokshizer. Born in Nizhyn (in the Chernihiv region, now Ukraine) on 13 December 1921, he commenced his concert activity on All-Union Radio when barely 20, and then, in 1947, gained first prize at a competition in Prague. Although he enjoyed a notable career as soloist, he was also for many years principal trumpeter w...
    Bookmark and Share

  • Paul Merkelo discusses 'The Enlightened Trumpet' with Montana Public Radio
    Posted At: March 26, 2020 12:00 AM

    Recognized among the finest trumpet virtuosos of his generation, Paul Merkelo releases The Enlightened Trumpet, his first recording for Sony Classical. Hailed as "a spectacular soloist ... a most impressive master of his instrument" (Montreal Gazette) who "knows no limits" (Der Spiegel) and with "unusual lyrical gifts" (Gramophone), Merkelo has been Principal trumpet with the Orchestre symphoni...
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  • Paul Merkelo discusses 'The Enlightened Trumpet' with the Rio Grande Guardian
    Posted At: March 5, 2020 12:00 AM

    Paul Merkelo has been Principal trumpet for the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 1995. He has held the same positions with the Rochester Philharmonic and New Orleans Symphony. He gained early orchestral experience as an extra with the New York Philharmonic and Pittsburgh Symphony. Merkelo is on the music faculty at McGill University. Hailed as ‘the new Maurice André' by the...
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  • Paul Merkelo stops by WABE: Atlanta to discuss 'The Enlightened Trumpet'
    Posted At: January 30, 2020 12:00 AM

    Recognized among the finest trumpet virtuosos of his generation, Paul Merkelo release; The Enlightened Trumpet, his first recording for Sony Classical. pairs Merkelo with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and its founder and conductor Marios Papadopoulos for four spectacular concertos by Haydn, Leopold Mozart, Telemann, and Hummel. Hailed as "a spectacular soloist ... a most impressive master of his ...
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  • PublicRadio90's 'Classiclectic Connection' interviews Paul Merkelo about the trumpet's evolution, influences, and heroes
    Posted At: January 29, 2020 12:00 AM

    On this edition of the PublicRadio90's Classiclectic Connection(MI), we speak with Trumpeter Paul Merkelo, all about his newest project The Enlightened Trumpet, which is his first release on Sony Classical. Paul is Principal Trumpet with the Montreal Symphonic Orchestra, and on this album, releases music of Haydn, Telemann, Leopold Mozart and Hummel; all music from the Age of Enlightenment, and ...
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  • Paul Merkelo chats with Central Michigan Radio's 'Mosaic'
    Posted At: January 27, 2020 12:00 AM

    Recognized among the finest trumpet virtuosos of his generation, Paul Merkelo release; The Enlightened Trumpet is his first recording for Sony Classical. Hailed as "a spectacular soloist ... a most impressive master of his instrument" (Montreal Gazette) who "knows no limits" (Der Spiegel) and with "unusual lyrical gifts" (Gramophone), Merkelo has been Principal trumpet with the Orchestre symphonique de M...
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  • Paul Merkelo speaks with FM91 - Toledo about 'The Enlightened Trumpet'
    Posted At: January 23, 2020 12:00 AM

    Trumpet virtuoso (and principal of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra) Paul Merkelo has a new recording out on Sony Classical, which features stand-out performances of four popular concertos – all composed during The Age of Enlightenment in Europe (as Paul explains in this interview, the trumpet and its music was itself going through some changes during this period). Paul brings three different trumpe...
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  • Paul Merkelo - The Enlightened Trumpet is the WCRB: CD of the Week
    Posted At: January 20, 2020 12:00 AM

    There's a fearlessness that comes with the territory when you're a musician. Doing your job every day in front of thousands of people who are waiting to be impressed is not what many of us would choose to do with our lives. When you layer on top of that an instrument that's meant to cut through large orchestral textures, which also means that any mistakes or misfires are more than noticeable, that courag...
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  • Paul Merkelo enlightens classical radio
    Posted At: January 16, 2020 12:00 AM

    Recognized among the finest trumpet virtuosos of his generation, Paul Merkelo releases The Enlightened Trumpet, his first recording for Sony Classical. Hailed as "a spectacular soloist ... a most impressive master of his instrument" (Montreal Gazette) who "knows no limits" (Der Spiegel) and with "unusual lyrical gifts" (Gramophone), Merkelo has been Principal trumpet with the Orchestre symphonique de Mon...
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  • Paul Merkelo gives clear accounts of all four concertos on 'The Enlightened Trumpet' / The Rehearsal Studio
    Posted At: December 26, 2019 12:00 AM

    As I do my best to catch up on the queue of recent recordings that I have accumulated, one of the more appealing that I have encountered has the title The Enlightened Trumpet. The album features Paul Merkelo, Principal Trumpet with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, performing concertos by (in "order of appearance") Joseph Haydn (Hoboken VII3/1 in E-flat major), Georg Philipp Telemann (TWV 51:D7 in D major...
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  • Paul Merkelo - The Enlightened Trumpet makes the CBC's '20 favourite Canadian classical albums of 2019'
    Posted At: December 3, 2019 12:00 AM

    Now that December is upon us, it's time not only to dust off our recordings of Handel's Messiah and Bach's Christmas Oratorio, but also to reflect on the year that was. In the past, we've rounded up our favourite Canadian classical albums of the year in a top 10 list. But 2019 yielded such a bumper crop - Canada's classical pianists were especially prolific this year - that we require...
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  • Paul Merkelo - The Enlightened Trumpet makes CD HotList: December picks
    Posted At: December 1, 2019 12:00 AM

    Trumpeter Paul Merkelo offers a thoroughly delightful program of trumpet concertos spanning the late baroque, classical, and early Romantic eras (hence the title). The album features concertos by Haydn, Telemann, Mozart, and Hummel–the latter a particularly interesting choice as he is known mainly as a piano composer, though the trumpet concerto featured here is a showcase of bravura technique. Mer...
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  • Paul Merkelo Q&A's with The Cross-Eyed Pianist
    Posted At: November 26, 2019 12:00 AM

    Paul Merkelo has been hailed as ‘the new Maurice André' by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and is recognized as ‘a spectacular soloist... a most impressive master of his instrument' (Montreal Gazette) who ‘knows no limits' (Der Spiegel online - Germany) with ‘unusual lyrical gifts' (Gramophone). Principal trumpet with the Orchestre symphonique ...
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  • Paul Merkelo - The Enlightened Trumpet makes PublicRadio90's 'Genre Fluid Fridays on Classiclectic'
    Posted At: November 8, 2019 12:00 AM

    Genre Fluid Fridays on Classiclectic: Music exploration and discovery through the lens of classically-minded composers and musicians.  Explore beyond the horizon of classical music, Fridays on Public Radio 90, beginning just after 9:30am ET.  This time we are packed with goodies of all instruments and voices!  Trumpeter Paul Merkelo has a new recording as well, called The Enlighte...
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  • CLASSIC fM: New Releases features; Paul Merkolo's The Enlightened Trumpet
    Posted At: September 23, 2019 12:00 AM

    Throughout the week Classic FM's presenters bring you the best new recordings, including world exclusives and premiere broadcasts of latest releases. This week: Album of the Week and Drive Discovery feature Paul Merkelo's Enlightened Trumpet.  John Suchet plays a track from his featured Album of the Week at 10.15am every weekday and John Brunning plays a track from his featured Drive Discovery ...
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