Page 72 - Alison Balsom Quiet City FULL BOOK

She may be 15 albums in, but Alison is keenly aware of how much the format has changed in
that time, and how consumption habits are so different with streaming. “The greatest
challenge has been finding my muse, making something that the world might want to hear”,
she says, “and yet there is an amazing opportunity to pioneer. We put Quiet City with some
things that we’re OK with, and some things that are more challenging, such as the Charles
Ives piece The Unanswered Question, which I love, but Warner let me go for it. It’s a lucky
situation to be in.”

Asking Balsom to cast her thoughts back, I ask who has been an influence on her career to
date? “In terms of my teachers, I would say John Miller – an amazing teacher and trumpet
guru. With him we focussed on sound, as the trumpet is all about the production of
technique. I would compare him to Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid, he wouldn’t let me do the
cool stuff but I’m so glad he did that! I then went on to work with Håkan Hardenberger,
who taught me how to teach myself. Physically the trumpet is so challenging, but that’s not
how you master it. Getting to Grade 8 is just the start! It has this incredible, multifaceted
personality, it reflects who you are. We play our personalities through our instruments!”
Balsom’s husband, film director Sam Mendes, had a small hand in the album’s running
order. “He suggested the use of Leonard Bernstein‘s Lonely Town”, she says, and was a
good soundboard for how the album was fitting together.” Has she returned the compliment
on any of his film scoring? “I have made a few suggestions!” – she smiles – “and of course he
has got to know a lot of trumpet repertoire through me.”

She recognises a change of focus in the musical landscape since the pandemic, with much
more emphasis on recorded music. In spite of that there are a couple of concerts planned
for the rest of the year. “There was the launch concert at Snape, with full bells and whistles,
which is quite a complicated affair but the only live version of the album we will be doing.
After that it gets quite random, but on October I’ll be doing a recital with Anna Lapwood,
the organist, and a lighting designer, at a school in Tonbridge. It’s going to be an immersive
trumpet and organ recital. We know the music is amazing but how can we present it and
immerse people in the music? I’m really looking forward to doing that, she’s a real force for
good! I wanted an amazing acoustic and organ, and there will be a few new pieces for that
one.”

Plans are afoot for a seventeenth album, too. “I have had a good chat with Trevor
Pinnock about my next project. Over the pandemic we had to re-evaluate travelling and
what we have a desire to do – and there are some exciting plans on the horizon!”
You can discover more on Alison Balsom by visiting her website – and you can hear more
of Quiet City and purchase the album on the Presto website. Meanwhile for more
information on her recital with Anna Lapwood, and to buy tickets, go to the Tonbridge
Music Club website