The most recent Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra of Mikhail Pletnev was composed towards the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. Following the rich tradition since the first concertos of the Baroque masters for this instrument, Pletnev unfolds its rich virtuosic possibilities and sonic brilliance in his work. But this is virtuosity of a different order; the composer avoids typical fanfare motifs, ‘allowing’ the soloist to play such passages only at the end of the work. The concerto is written not for the usual trumpet in “B” (“B flat”) position, but for trumpet in “C” position. With a brighter and more open timbre, it was used more in American orchestras, jazz and contemporary music. One more peculiarity – the orchestra is in a rather unusual chamber ensemble of flute and bassoon, percussion (timpani, small drum, cymbals, temple-block, tom-toms, xylophone) and strings.

The concerto is structured in a single-piece form with several movements, in the centre of which is a “Russian” melody. As the renowned Austrian music producer and artistic advisor Dr. Adrian Eugen Hollaender notes, “The work requires virtuosity and sensitivity on the part of the soloist and a wide tonal range from the orchestra in order to appropriately expose the melodic and harmonic character together. The present combination of an excellent orchestra, a dedicated soloist and the composer himself as conductor of the concerto provides an authentic interpretation of the deep artistic essence of the work and reveals the depth of Mikhail Pletnev’s compositional style!”.