Vivaldissimo

As the name reveals, the three-movement trumpet concerto Vivaldissimo composed in 2000 for the South- West German Chamber Orchestra of Pforzheim and the trumpeter Reinhold Friedrich is an homage to the 'Red Priest' Antonio Vivaldi, or more precisely, to his Double Concerto for two trumpets.

The first movement (Allegro) weaves virtuoso solo passages with a minimalist orchestral texture and, with its very fast tempo, gives the soloist and the orchestra room to demonstrate technical brilliance. The following Adagio with its hints of dodecaphony is characterized by a general contemplative mood; the lyrical Siciliana woven into it draws its special effect from the tonal colour of the muted high trumpets. The final Vivo is a tremendously burlesque and rhythmically tricky last movement which culminates in an exuberant finale – a piece of bravura for soloist and orchestra!