Page 186 - Alison Balsom Quiet City FULL BOOK

Willis is the first-class soloist in Mozart’s Horn Concerto No 1 in D and No 2 in E flat. A
seven-strong ensemble, enchantingly called Sarahbanda, perform Pa Pa Pa by Edgar
Olivero, inspired by the Papageno/Papagena duet from Mozart’s The Magic Flute. The
fizzing Havana Lyceum Orchestra plays traditional Cuban dances, for solo horn, strings
and percussion, with a difference: all have been commissioned by Willis, from six young
Cuban composers. Enrique Lazaga (güiro), a member of the original Buena Vista Social
Club, makes a guest appearance. With a suave rumba (with chirping cricket), bolero and
cha-cha-cha – Sarahchá – this is perfect hot weather music.

This star player is put through her hornist paces and comes out dancing. Some of the
proceeds will go to buying instruments for the young Havana musicians.

The starting point for trumpeter Alison Balsom’s latest solo album was
a concert in 2017 at London’s Barbican with the Britten Sinfonia. Quiet
City (Warner Classics), conducted by Scott Stroman, is the result. The
mix of mid-20th-century repertoire in the seven tracks is predominantly

American, from Aaron Copland’s Quiet City to Charles Ives’s The
Unanswered Question, and the Lonely Town Pas de deux from Leonard Bernstein’s On
the Town.

As an entity it creates a varied album in every kind of mood. It will delight anyone, not
only the trumpet expert, who admires Balsom’s eclecticism and musical brilliance. She
is joined by oboist Nicholas Daniel, playing cor anglais on Quiet City, and the pianist
Tom Poster in Simon Wright’s skilful arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.
Balsom’s virtuosity is spellbinding throughout.