Karajan artists: Maurice André – the trumpeter of the century

“He is not of this world!” Karajan said about Maurice André.

Without any doubt Maurice André was the most popular classical trumpet player in the 20^th century. His silver tone and his astounding virtuosity made him an ideal partner for Karajan in a recording of baroque and classical trumpet concertos by Telemann, Vivaldi, Leopold Mozart and Hummel in 1974. In concert, André appeared with Karajan two times performing Bach’s 2^nd Brandenburg Concerto on an American tour with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1967 and a year later in Lucerne.

Born in 1933, André’s career was quite unusual for a classical musician. He only learned his instrument at the age of 14 while he was also was doing an apprenticeship as a miner. Having won the prestigious ARD music competition in Munich in 1963, he was able to build up a career as a solo trumpeter mainly booked for the baroque repertoire but also inspiring contemporary composers. “I love Johann Sebastian Bach, the greatest musician of all time,” said André and succeeded as a soloist in many Bach works, including sacred ones. In an interview, he mentions a flattering offer:

“Maestro Karajan wanted me for his Berlin orchestra but I had worked so hard to be a soloist. This was much more interesting for me.”

As the 1974 album testifies, Karajan could take no for an answer.

—  P.R. Jenkins