In the News
November 4, 2006
The Times
Interview by Louise Cohen
Life's a blast
The trumpeter Alison Balsom tunes into pop, jazz and Purcell
Childhood memories
The first tape I ever got was Kylie Minogue's album I Should Be So Lucky. I was 8 and it was the same birthday that I got my first trumpet. I think I was more excited about the Kylie album than I was about my trumpet!
Inspiration
I heard a concert at the Barbican when I was 9. It was the English Chamber Orchestra with a Swedish trumpet player callled Håkan Hardenberger playing a Hummel concerto. I thought that it was the best thing I had heard. From that moment I decided that that was definitely what I was going to do.
Current favourite
At the moment I'm really inspired by the pianist Joanna MacGregor. She's so eclectic in what she does; it's so fresh and original but she still takes everything she does so seriously. I think that she's absolutely fantastic.
In the gym
If I've got my iPod and I'm working out I like to listen to things with a lot of bass and rhythm. The other day when I was running I listened to the great trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, who has got an album out called Big Train. It's really funky - the rhythms are really driving and motivating.
Wedding day
I would have lots of music by Purcell at my wedding - I think that he's brilliant. His aria If Music Be the Food of Love is really beautiful. And the other day my boyfriend found an aria by Handel and he said I just had to listen to it, so he downloaded it for me. It's gorgeous, so transporting - I would choose that as well.
The ultimate challenge
There is a solo piece for trumpet by the Austrian composer H. K. Gruber called Exposed Throat. It uses everything - it is performed without parts of the trumpets attached and employs full harmonics. When I first saw it on the page I couldn’t believe it - it's so complicated that it seems to be unplayable. I haven't performed it yet but I hope to.
Funeral
The last chorus of Bach's St Matthew Passion is just the most moving piece, and I would like it played at my funeral. It's the saddest thing you could ever hear but it's so moving and beautiful. The last time I heard it I had tears in my eyes straight away. It wouldn't be a very jolly funeral!
Guilty pleasures
I listen to Jamiroquai a lot, which I know used to be cool and is kind of old now but I like it! If I want to switch off, especially if I have been practising a lot, it's almost like a cleansing thing, to switch my brain off. I like Cosmic Girl - it's really funky!
The Times
Interview by Louise Cohen
Life's a blast
The trumpeter Alison Balsom tunes into pop, jazz and Purcell
Childhood memories
The first tape I ever got was Kylie Minogue's album I Should Be So Lucky. I was 8 and it was the same birthday that I got my first trumpet. I think I was more excited about the Kylie album than I was about my trumpet!
Inspiration
I heard a concert at the Barbican when I was 9. It was the English Chamber Orchestra with a Swedish trumpet player callled Håkan Hardenberger playing a Hummel concerto. I thought that it was the best thing I had heard. From that moment I decided that that was definitely what I was going to do.
Current favourite
At the moment I'm really inspired by the pianist Joanna MacGregor. She's so eclectic in what she does; it's so fresh and original but she still takes everything she does so seriously. I think that she's absolutely fantastic.
In the gym
If I've got my iPod and I'm working out I like to listen to things with a lot of bass and rhythm. The other day when I was running I listened to the great trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, who has got an album out called Big Train. It's really funky - the rhythms are really driving and motivating.
Wedding day
I would have lots of music by Purcell at my wedding - I think that he's brilliant. His aria If Music Be the Food of Love is really beautiful. And the other day my boyfriend found an aria by Handel and he said I just had to listen to it, so he downloaded it for me. It's gorgeous, so transporting - I would choose that as well.
The ultimate challenge
There is a solo piece for trumpet by the Austrian composer H. K. Gruber called Exposed Throat. It uses everything - it is performed without parts of the trumpets attached and employs full harmonics. When I first saw it on the page I couldn’t believe it - it's so complicated that it seems to be unplayable. I haven't performed it yet but I hope to.
Funeral
The last chorus of Bach's St Matthew Passion is just the most moving piece, and I would like it played at my funeral. It's the saddest thing you could ever hear but it's so moving and beautiful. The last time I heard it I had tears in my eyes straight away. It wouldn't be a very jolly funeral!
Guilty pleasures
I listen to Jamiroquai a lot, which I know used to be cool and is kind of old now but I like it! If I want to switch off, especially if I have been practising a lot, it's almost like a cleansing thing, to switch my brain off. I like Cosmic Girl - it's really funky!