L-R: Alexei Tihonov1, Veniamin Margolin and Iskander Akhmadullin

Iskander Akhmadullin, assistant professor of trumpet at the University of Missouri-Columbia, together with his wife, pianist Natalia Bolshakova, gave two recitals in Russia in March, 2005.

The first recital was held at the Rimsky-Korsakov College of Music in St. Petersburg. Despite a barely-above-freezing temperature in the recital hall, the audience warmly welcomed the performers. Two of the recital selections were given their premiere performances in Russia: Ballade for Trumpet and Piano by James Wintle and Nightsongs for Flugelhorn, Trumpet and Piano by Richard Peaslee.

Moscow’s Central State Museum of Musical Arts, named after Glinka, was the venue for the next concert. One of the special features of this recital was the opportunity to utilize the historical instruments from the museum's collection. Bolshakova played a Bechstein grand piano, that had belonged to the legendary pianist Alexander Goldenweiser, who was a classmate of Rachmaninov and who taught at the Moscow Conservatory for nearly 60 years. Mr. Akhmadullin chose to perform Mikhail Tabakov's transcription of Franz Liszt's song Oh! quand je dors on the Zimmerman rotary trumpet made in early 1900 specially for Tabakov. About 15 years ago Timofei Dokshizer played the same piece on that same instrument at the special recital dedicated to his teacher Tabakov. It was the first time Akhmadullin had heard Maestro Dokshizer in live concert. The memory of that concert inspired Iskander Akhmadullin to select this piece for the recital at the museum. Little did he know that this performance would become a tribute to Timofei Dokshizer: the greatest Russian trumpeter passed away on March 16, and the funeral was held in Moscow just two days before the recital.

Akhmadullin also used Sergei Eryomin's Bach Stradivarius #7 made in the 1930s to perform Rachmaninov's Spring Waters, another Tabakov arrangement.

Iskander Akhmadullin wants to thank Professor Veniamin Margolin and Mr. Maxim Ignatiev for arranging the recital in St. Petersburg; and Mr. Ahat Samadov for arranging the Moscow performance.

Website:
Glinka State Central Museum of Musical Culture (in English)

Note 1: Alexei Tihonov is a head of the wind department at the Mussorgsky Music College, St Petersburg.