Tine Thing Helseth, trumpet; Bergen Philarmonic, Petr Popelka, conductor.
Alexander ARUTIUNIAN: Trumpet Concerto
Krzysztof PENDERECKI: Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra
Mieczysław WEINBERG: Trumpet Concerto
Alexander ARUTIUNIAN: Theme and Variations
LAWO Classics LWC1390
Formats: CD, digital
Release Date: October 3, 2025
Total Duration: 67:46
Giorgio Koukl | 24 OCT 2025
Bringing together scores of Alexander Arutiunian, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Mieczysław Weinberg in a CD is definitely a respectable combination. Their trumpet and orchestra works, played by the rising star, the young Norwegian trumpet soloist Tine Thing Helseth, practically guarantee an exceptional album.
LWC1390 cover art (click to enlarge)
The orchestra chosen—the Bergen Philharmonic, under the precise and energetic direction of excellent conductor Petr Popelka—explores all necessary shades of sonority, from tiny details to full, nearly Wagnerian sound. The only remark in this sense is that the sound engineers sometimes keep the trumpet sound a shade too loud, impeding a real interplay between orchestra and soloist.
But let’s explore the scores in detail.
The Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto is one of the most beloved and frequently performed trumpet concertos of the 20th century. It is a clearly romantic, lyrical, and virtuoso piece which combines Armenian folk rhythms and melodies with rich orchestration and technical brilliance—often described as fiery, bold, and expressive.
Although it’s technically a single-movement concerto, it follows a structure similar to multiple movements: “Andante – Allegro energico,” “Meno moso,” and “Tempo I – Cadenza – Coda.”
The cadenza is a signature highlight, giving the soloist an opportunity to showcase technical skill and musicality. Here, Helseth is absolutely at her peak, completely free and using every available trumpet sound color. One can not imagine a better interpreter.
Another gorgeous piece by Arutunian also graces this album: Theme & Variations for Trumpet and Orchestra (1972).
Each variation tends to explore a different character, technique, or mood, while maintaining continuity with the original thematic material. This is something entirely natural for Helseth. She finds a just degree for every variation. Some variations emphasize agility, which comes easily to her; others focus on lyricism (more melodic, expressive lines); and still others may lean toward rhythmic or percussive textures. It may be here that one can miss the interaction with the orchestra, far too low in an overall sonic landscape.
The piece demands technical control (articulation, dynamic contrast, rapid tonguing, wide range)
Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra by Krzysztof Penderecki follows. Composed in 2015, it was the first concerto‐type work that Penderecki wrote for trumpet as a solo instrument. With its four movements, it follows the complete revolution in the composer’s way of conceiving music. After his iconic Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, Penderecki abandoned the Darmstadt school entirely, much to the displeasure of his followers. In his last years, he returned to the realm of quasi-tonal music. Not the only composer who intuitively saw the dead end of innovation at all costs.
Petr Popelka (credit: Khalil_Baalbaki)
It is a real challenge for every soloist, and again Helseth displays her qualities, even if in a slightly minor way, as in Arutiunian. But this is the glory moment for the orchestra and the conductor, putting in place an extraordinary precision and a perfect intonation in the difficult string passages.
The CD is completed with a fascinating score by Mieczysław Weinberg: his Trumpet Concerto, Op. 94
This composer, unfortunately still not well known, deserves far wider recognition, so the inclusion in this project is a really laudable task.
It was written for and dedicated to the Russian trumpeter Timofey Dokshitser, who gave the premiere on 6 January 1968 in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, with the Moscow Philharmonic under Kirill Kondrashin. Since then, not many recordings are available; surely Ms. Helseth delivers the best recording ever here.
With the enormous value of this repertoire and the capacities of Tine Thing Helseth, this album is definitely an easy recommendation for everyone. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Tine Thing Helseth: tinethinghelseth.com
- Petr Popelka: petr-popelka.com
- Bergen Philharmonic: harmonien.no/en
Read more by Giorgio Koukl.
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