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Press Release Paul Merkelo, trumpet Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Kent Nagano

FRENCH TRUMPET CONCERTOS AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT

Release date: January 27, 2015

Montreal, January 27, 2015 – Paul Merkelo grew up listening to trumpet recordings by Maurice André (France),

Wynton Marsalis (USA), and Timofei Dokshizer (Ukraine). It was the different sounds and styles that these players embodied on the trumpet that really sparked his passion and made him want to pursue becoming a classical trumpet player. This recording marks the culmination of childhood dreams and his current position as Principal Trumpet with the OSM for over 20 years. Paul Merkelo chose this French repertoire because it draws attention to a period in Europe that saw the liberation of its people at the end of World War II, and a rejuvenation of its soul through their artists, writers, and poets. This freedom of expression is clearly heard in the works of Henri Tomasi (1901-1970), Alfred Desenclos (1912-1971), and André Jolivet (1905-1974). Their interest in the sound of the trumpet and its ability to fit into a jazz idiom, as well as being a highly virtuosic instrument, gave birth to three of the most beautiful trumpet concertos. Very few recordings exist today, as they are renowned for being some of the hardest repertoire for this instrument. Mr. Merkelo wished to record this repertoire accompanied by his colleagues under the baton of music director Kent Nagano at Maison symphonique de Montréal, the residence of the OSM internationally recognized for its exceptional acoustic quality. This recording was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, a web platform for crowd-funding of projects worldwide. It is one of the first projects of the sort in Canada. The campaign began in November 2013, and was a stunning success with the funding objective obtained within a single month. The album French Trumpet Concertos is now available for the public to discover these rare works under the Analekta label. A rare occurrence in classical music, the album will also be available on vinyl (audiophile quality – 180 grams – release date to be determined). A third solo recording In the past, Paul Merkelo released two albums: A Simple Song, which climbed to the top of the classical sales chart in Quebec in 2000; and Baroque Transcriptions, which was released by the Analekta label in 2004 and was nominated by ADISQ in the category Album of the year – Classical / Soloist & Small Ensembles.

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About Paul Merkelo Considered one of the most respected trumpet players in the world, Paul Merkelo is renowned for his "unusual lyrical gifts" (Gramophone). He is often featured as soloist with the OSM including a tour of South America under Charles Dutoit, and at the Lincoln Center in NY. He made his New York debut at Alice Tully Hall in 1998 with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches at McGill university in Montreal and at the Music Academy of the West in California. About Kent Nagano Kent Nagano is renowned for interpretations of clarity, elegance and intelligence. He is equally at home in music of the classical, romantic and contemporary eras, introducing concert and opera audiences throughout the world to new and rediscovered music and offering fresh insights into established repertoire. As guest conductor he has led most of the great orchestras, such as the philharmonics of Vienna, Berlin and New York, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Since 2006 he has been music director of the OSM, a contract renewed until 2020, and was general music director of the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich from 2006 to 2013. In September 2013 he became principal guest conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. In 2015 he will take over the position of general music director at the Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra. With the OSM Kent Nagano has made a total of nine recordings, including Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde (Song of the Earth) with tenor Klaus Florian Vogt and baritone Christian Gerhaher (Sony), Mahler Orchesterlieder (Songs with orchestra) also alongside Christian Gerhaher (Analekta), works by composer Unsuk Chin with violinist Viviane Hagner (Analekta), Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 4 and 5 with Till Fellner (EMC/Universal), Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and Scriabin’s Prometheus with Alain Lefèvre (Analekta), and the continuing complete Beethoven symphonies, of which Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 have already been released (Sony/Analekta). Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was recorded during the inaugural concerts of Maison symphonique de Montréal in 2011. The Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Since its founding in 1934, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal has distinguished itself as a leader in the orchestral life of Canada and Québec. A cultural ambassador of the highest order, the Orchestra has acquired an enviable reputation internationally through the quality of its many recordings and tours. The OSM carries on that rich tradition under the leadership of its current music director, Kent Nagano, featuring innovative programming aimed at updating the orchestral repertoire and strengthening the Orchestra’s connection with the community. Over the years the OSM has undertaken some forty national and international excursions and tours. The Orchestra has made more than 100 recordings, on the Decca, EMI, Philips, CBC Records, Analekta, ECM and Sony labels, as well as on its own label, which have earned it a total of 50 national and international awards.

The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal wishes to thank the City of Montreal for its generous support. The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is presented by Hydro-Québec.

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