Trumpet virtuoso Sergei Nakariakov, hailed as the “Paganini and Caruso of the trumpet”—returns to Singapore with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in a programme led by Mikhail Pletnev, featuring the composer’s own Trumpet Concerto and his arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite.
From festive fanfares to lyrical ballet, the evening frames Nakariakov’s trumpet in vivid colour. Under Pletnev’s baton, audiences can expect a night of brilliance, storytelling, and heartfelt artistry.
Ahead of the concert, Nakariakov reflects on music, interpretation, and his artistic journey.
This concert features Mikhail Pletnev’s Trumpet Concerto, written for and conducted by the composer himself. How do you prepare for such a distinctive work?
When I prepare for a concerto, for me it’s like preparing to tell an abstract story. This concerto is very colourful—it has everything: virtuosity, lyricism, and interplay with the orchestra.
The programme opens with Shostakovich’s Festive Overture and closes with Pletnev’s Swan Lake Suite. How do you see your role within this journey?
I don’t think my concerto is directly connected to the other works, so my focus is on the “story” I need to tell in this piece.
You’ve been described as both the “Paganini” and “Caruso” of the trumpet. How do you balance virtuosity and emotion in a work like this?
I wouldn’t like to dissect my playing in that way – it’s simply about telling the story in the most natural and sincere way possible.
You’ve premiered this concerto in cities such as Budapest, and now you’re performing it in Singapore. Do different places influence your interpretation?
Life experience influences my playing. That includes many aspects, from inner feeling to the musicians I share the stage with. The setting itself doesn’t affect me so much.
What draws you to new works like this concerto?
What I appreciate about this piece is that it isn’t written in an avant-garde language. Quite the opposite; it has clarity, lyricism, and beauty, which I value deeply.
Looking back on your career, are there performances that continue to inspire you?
At this moment I’m thinking of times I played with Martha Argerich, and also with Yuri Temirkanov. Those experiences have stayed with me.
You’ve often redefined what’s possible on the trumpet by adapting works for other instruments. What has shaped this journey?
I have to thank my father, who created so many arrangements for me. That shaped my repertoire and widened my musical horizon as I was growing up. Over the years I’ve recorded concertos written for strings, woodwinds, vocal music… so much!
What excites you most about the future?
More and more, I’m interested in chamber music. I feel very lucky to play alongside some of the greatest musicians in the world. I also have so many ideas for projects—maybe too many to realise!
Pletnev’s Swan Lake + Trumpet Concerto / Sergei Nakariakov
Friday & Saturday, 29 & 30 August 2025
Esplanade Concert Hall, 7.30pm
$100, $75, $55, $40, $30
https://ticketing.sso.org.sg/sso/booking/SOT2635-1a