Excellent recording
Patrick Randall | 08/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having heard much of Hardenberger's piccolo work, I was pleased to see that his cornet playing is equally impressive. He nails technically demanding pieces without sacrificing his beautiful sound. Arban's Norma Variations and Hartmann's piece based on Rule Britannia are never dull, and Hardenberger is accurate and virtuosic on the more modern pieces, including the Francaix Sonatine and the fiendishly difficult Maxwell Davies sonata. Every piece is superbly played, and Pontinen provides good accompaniment."
Wow!
dm | rochester, ny | 07/23/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I never thought that I'd hear a trumpet player that I could put on a par with Miles Davis...of course Miles is still God, but perhaps Hakan is a major deity?
The virtuosity of the playing on these pieces is stunning. I have to admit that on first listen I didn't really like all of the pieces; some sounded to harsh and more "jazzy" than classical (not that there's anything wrong with jazzy!)
On a second listen, though, the harshness went away and the brilliance of the playing came through.
This is a must for any trumpet player or fan."