An artist of dazzling charisma and commanding presence, Edinburgh-born trumpeter Aaron Akugbo is redefining the soundscape of his instrument. This February, he graces the Absolute Classics concert series alongside the virtuosic Turkish pianist Zeynep Özsuca for a programme as dynamic as the duo themselves.
A former principal of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and an alumnus of the Royal Academy of Music, Akugbo is as comfortable in the high-octane brilliance of Baroque coloratura as he is in the brooding lyricism of 20th-century works. A musician who cites Louis Armstrong as his greatest inspiration, Akugbo brings a warmth and fluency to the trumpet that sets him apart from his contemporaries.
Concert dates and venues for Aaron Akugbo’s performances in the Absolute Classics concert series:
- Friday, 14 February (6:30pm) – Netherby Hall
- Saturday, 15 February (7:30pm) – Cochran Hall
- Sunday, 16 February (2:30pm) – Easterbrook Hall
The journey begins at Netherby Hall on Friday, 14 February (6:30pm), where the programme unfurls with Honegger’s Intrada, Boulanger’s nocturnal reverie, and Turnage’s deeply personal Elegy for Andy. Expect fireworks in Vivaldi’s Agitata da due venti before the soulful lyricism of Bozza’s Aria and Françaix’s playful Sonatine.
On Saturday, 15 February (7:30pm, Cochran Hall), the duo continues with Hubeau’s rhapsodic Trumpet Sonata, the radiant optimism of Florence Price, and a selection of evocative works bridging the centuries.
Closing the series on Sunday, 16 February (2:30pm, Easterbrook Hall), Mahler’s Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft! and Ropartz’s Andante and Allegro provide an ethereal farewell.
For full programme and tickets visit: www.absoluteclassics.co.uk
Photo Credit Zeynep Özsuca – Sascha Rattle
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