Virtuoso Trumpeter Alison Balsom Makes Long-Awaited Return with New Album

Alison Balsom Announces Her Return to Recording with Royal Fireworks 

Alison Balsom, a virtuoso trumpeter who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest trumpeters of her generation, recently announced her much-anticipated return to recording with a new album entitled Royal Fireworks.

The album, which is set to release worldwide on Nov. 8, 2019, is a collection of beloved Baroque classics and new arrangements performed alongside the Balsom Ensemble, a world-class group of period-instrument specialists. 

Royal Fireworks, marks Balsom’s long-term partnership with Warner Classics, marking her thirteenth solo release for the label. The record comes after a three-year absence, following her 2016 recording, Jubilo. According to the release, Balsom has established a multi-faceted career as an in-demand soloist on the international concert stage, has become a passionate educator and spokesperson for music education, a curator, and has recently acquired tenure as Artistic Director of the 75th Cheltenham Music Festival in 2019. 

Balsom’s all-Baroque album punctuates her ability to perform on the natural (valveless) trumpet and features concertos and orchestral masterpieces by Handel, JS Bach, Telemann, and Purcell.

Long considered a  pioneer of adapting works written for other solo instruments, Balsom is committed to demonstrating the versatility of the trumpet and Royal Fireworks features three new orchestrations by arranger Simon Wright.

Baroque repertoire and the natural trumpet are long-held passions for Alison Balsom. Performed with the Balsom Ensemble, a hand-picked ensemble of world-class period instrument specialists, Royal Fireworks not only captures Balsom's virtuosity on the natural trumpet but also her delight in making music as a group with like-minded colleagues.

“I’ve been making recordings for almost 20 years and this has been by far the most enjoyable recording experience I’ve had,” Balsom Says. 

“The music is full of utter joy and magic, the versions we play are often new, and in some cases quite maverick.  The thrill of recording with some of the greatest artists around, all of us on Baroque instruments, who happen to also be my good friends, has been a privilege. I hope the pleasure we got from playing this music comes across on our album.”

In addition to her other accomplishments, Balsom is the recipient of a Gramophone Award for Artist of the Year, three Classic BRIT Awards, a Nordoff Robbins Silver Clef Award and has performed as a soloist at the Last Night of the Proms. 

Royal Fireworks with the Balsom Ensemble is set to become a milestone recording in a successful and ever-evolving career.