Arutunian Trumpet Concerto - Adam Rapa & Vital Stahievitch

On a tour of Japan last month, playing Classical music with a brilliant pianist (Vital Stahievitch!), and with very little preparation time, it felt like the right occasion to perform the Arutunian Concerto (for only the 2nd time in my life).
This is a gorgeous piece of music, with lots of rich melodies to sink your teeth into. Since I’m not a full-time devotee or an expert on the stylistic details of this genre of music, my goal was simply to exist in a flow-state, and allow for a certain amount of spontaneity to occur with regard to the interpretation.
I was apprehensive to post a full recording, but thanks to mounting pressure after that short, cheeky post the other day, I’ve been encouraged to put it out there in full.
I know you already know the piece. I would encourage you not to sing along, or compare this recording to your expectation of what it “should” sound like. Just take it in, as it is, and hopefully you’ll be treated to some delightfully surprising moments. It’s definitely not “perfect”, but it is honest. For me, that’s more important.
Since it’s often used as a competition piece for younger players, there’s often a lot of stress associated with it, which limits the possibility of real musical exploration. That’s a shame considering how expressive the piece can be.
I’m very happy to offer this recording (complete with all the excessive coughing, opening of candy wrappers [watch me eventually “smile” with daggers at the oblivious person responsible] and other would-be distractions) as an antidote to that stress. I invite you to be fully present, as we were, and to give your inner-adjudicator a smoke break.
One of the best things we can do for the music we play is to savor every delicious note, and play from the heart, as Arutunian clearly wrote this piece from the heart.

[@abimaelbarboza]

Adam, I consider this concerto one of the most beautiful in trumpet literature. Thank you for bringing this light-filled version to what Arutunian really wanted to express in each melody of this song. It touched me deeply the way you walked in each note and I walked with you. Thank you very much!!!!

[@lotustrumpets6739]

Thank you!

[@59samvel]

Bravo Adam!!! I think you are one of the few trumpeters who plays both, jazz and classical very well. Thank you very much for this brave desision. I invite you to my anniversary concert in Yerevan, from November 12 to November 14, 2020, the motherland of Arutunyan, where they know you and are looking forward to meeting you with impatience.

[@drewshannon5465]

Love how effortless this sounds!

[@lalalalelele1189]

I like how you sort of keep the listeners expectations low by your description and then it's an absolutely stunning performance!

[@elinahirvonen3341]

Å⁰

[@jadesanchez7875]

Wonderful interpretation!

[@kevinelliott5823]

Incredible!

[@abimaelbarboza]

beautiful sound and amazing interpretation!!! Bravissimo !!!

[@strejdakapitan8331]

It's beautiful, beautiful. It's nice, calm and soft in the middle and the end is just impressive. I completely melted :D

[@mikemirtle]

Beautifully done, thanks for posting this. Definitely a piece to lose yourself in. Very expressive.

[@salvatorescannavino4866]

Grandissimo

[@raulbruno8901]

Classico lindo

[@joelgonzalez3509]

What Ipad stand are you using?

[@sergominasyan1014]

Առք ՀԱՅՈՑ ԳԵՆԻՆ 🇦🇲

[@user-bb5gx4bg9y]

Почему сидя ???

[@ayu-00]

1:15 15:00

[@aaronjackson7166]

13:44? 15:07? How do you achieve that tonguing effect? Double tonguing differently? Single tonguing differently?

[@lol-or5sf]

That is double-tonguing, but he relaxes his tongue while doing so. If I'm not mistaken, Adam made a video about tonguing too if you're interested.

[@carlitomendoza2474]

@@lol-or5sf by carlito of hongkong residence good job adam .

[@carlitomendoza2474]

again i always watching you doing some performance .carlito .hongkong residence .regards adam .mendoza family

[@bluebarman1]

Grande bravo Adam , ma ti si può contattare in lingua italiana.

[@scootermcscoot272]

Would lotus mouthpieces be considered "cheater mouthpieces"

[@lotustrumpets6739]

If you consider it cheating to choose a mouthpiece that really makes it easier to play the trumpet, then it would be considered cheating! /Henrik Grahn, LOTUS Trumpets

[@SoundScientist1]

What the hell is a "cheater" mouthpiece? 😅

[@user-qk2jq2ov9b]

Бледное отражение Докшицера, там дробь и вспышки ярости. Тут мягкой ладошкойкак гуано по ступенькам стекает

[@user-nl2gp9rz2k]

What mouthpiece?

[@karlozuger4883]

Lotus mouthpiece

[@possiblyrupert2844]

This one is the XL2, not sure on the rim size but probably 1

[@jeronimobarzabe354]

Ouai...Bon on voit les limites, le classique c est pas si facile en fait, et chacun son domaine, mais ça a le mérite d être fait. C est un style "particulier " mais bon. Bravo!! Par contre le pianiste c est un assassinat de la partition !! Pour du déchiffrage c est pas si mal 😂😂😂

[@Coolpsi]

Carrément ! Personnellement, du point de vue artistiques, je ne l'apprécie vraiment pas. Quand il joue du jazz il est péniblement banal et quand il joue du classique c'est "mou". Mai enfim, pour qui apprécie, il joue, et abuse, très bien dans les aigu.

[@ILoveHighNotes]

Не самая удачная запись, так сказать, не студийного качества...:(((( А жаль, концерт интересный. Хотелось быть послушать, как его в реальности Адам Рапа играет😊

[@ILoveHighNotes]

Скорее всего, бездарно был размещен микрофон, отчего и исказился тембр трубы. Еще были соблюдены не все авторские нюансы, ну да Бог с ними, Арутюнян простит:)))

[@kozerog25]

Примерно на таком же уровне качества исполнил этот концерт мой ученик в выпускном классе детской музыкально школы 13 г. Казани.

[@ILoveHighNotes]

@@kozerog25, так выложите запись, послушаем:)

[@SoulMarriage]

Why are the make and model of the trumpet and mouthpiece not noted?