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Stories   >   Paul Merkelo - The Enlightened Trumpet makes the CBC's '20 favourite Canadian classical albums of 2019'

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Paul Merkelo - The Enlightened Trumpet makes the CBC's '20 favourite Canadian classical albums of 2019'

Posted: December 3, 2019

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 required a longer list (and more superlatives) to say what needed to be said. We're not complaining!

Here are the 20 Canadian classical albums that stood out this year. 

It's been a while since we've been this excited about trumpet concertos and Paul Merkelo, principal trumpet of the OSM since 1995, is the reason. As his album's title suggests, he and the Oxford Phil are playing the most famous concertos from the 18th century - those by Haydn, Leopold Mozart, Telemann and, of course, Hummel. "I have studied these famous trumpet concertos since I started playing at age 10," he told CBC Music. "I was inspired by the recordings of Wynton Marsalis, Timofei Dokshizer and Maurice André." We're pleased to report that Merkelo's album takes its rightful place alongside theirs, with his dazzling technique and positively gleaming tone, nicely supported by an attentive conductor. Trumpet aficionados, take note: Merkelo plays the Hummel concerto on a custom-made E major trumpet and opts for Dokshizer's cadenza in the third movement - and it's a thrilling ride.            Paul Merkelo, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Marios Papadopoulos, The Enlightened Trumpet (Sony Classical)

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