Recital: Konradin Groth
Friday 2:00pm
Jon Burgess, Reviewer

Konradin Groth was principal trumpet with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 1974-98. In 1998, Groth became professor of trumpet at the Hochschule der Künste, Berlin. Groth and organist Anthony Newman began their recital with Suite No. 1 of Voluntaries by John Stanley. The wide range of organ colors and use of complimentary ornaments between these two great musicians created a wonderful performance. The next work in the program, Jan Koetsier's Partita Per Trombe in Re e Oragano, is a challenging four-movement work for piccolo trumpet and organ. The first and third movements are written in a neo-baroque style, while the second and fourth movements feature the trumpet in long choral-like phrases over a very contrapuntal organ accompaniment. The performance of both works was well-received. After a short intermission, Groth returned to play the Defaye Prelude No 1 and Eban's Okna (Windows) on a rotary valved C trumpet. The performance of these two works demonstrated Groth's beautiful sound and extraordinary use of color. The virtuosity of these two musicians was greatly appreciated by the audience. (Jon Burgess, assistant professor of trumpet, Texas Christian University)