“The tuba often gets a bad rap when it comes to ranking the popularity of an instrument. Often the last instrument to be handed out in high school bands, and usually to the kid who was late to class that day, the tuba has never been able to distinguish itself as a “cool” instrument in the same way that guitar, bass, piano, drums, violin, saxophone and trumpet have. Maybe it is because the tuba hasn’t really made the crossover from classical music to the popular music realm yet, as many of the other brass instruments have, or maybe it is because the tuba is often used for comic effect in TV shows and films. Regardless, the instrument has never really seemed to get the respect it deserves from the musical community and general public at large.

While the tuba may be relegated to the back of the class in a general sense, in the hands of a maestro such as Alessandro Fossi, the full potential of the instrument comes alive, reinventing the tuba as an instrument of dynamic contrast, wide tonal ranges and virtuosic technical feats. All of these aspects can be heard on Fossi’s album Bel Canto, which is a collection of 13 duos between the talented tubaist and pianist Nicoletta Mezzini. Both artists bring a world-class level of musicianship to each piece on the album, and their knowledge of both their instruments and the music at hand is evident from the very first notes of the opening track, J.S. Bach’s “Badinerie.” From this excellent beginning, the record only gets better.

Fossi delivers a stellar performance on Bel Canto, one that can be enjoyed by fans of the instrument and newcomers alike. His tone is solid throughout, as evidenced in pieces such as the melodious “Liebeslied” and the sense of longing and melancholy that he purveys during his interpretation of J.B. Arban’s “Variations on a Theme from Norma.” In both instances, the master tubaist’s playing transcends the instrument itself. His deep sense of the melody and high level of musicianship flows through every line and phrase, giving the impression that the instrument is almost a side thought. The music is what is important, and the means of delivering that music just happens to be a tuba.

As well as being a melodic performer with a deep and warm tone, Fossi is also a technical master of the instrument. On Monti’s “Czardas,” he twists and turns through the melody line, stretching the time as he blazes through this difficult, yet highly entertaining piece. One of the traits of a great musician is that they can make even the most difficult piece sound easy to play. While it is easy to recognize that “Czardas” is a fast and tricky work, one never gets the sense that Fossi is even breaking a sweat as he is performing. Each line is performed with perfect tone and technique, drawing the listener’s attention to the music itself and not the instrument being used or the difficulty of the music on the page.

Bel Canto is a well-conceived album of classical pieces performed by two world-class musicians and interpreted with the utmost respect for the music and the audience. Though many people would never think to run out and by an album of tuba duets, don’t be fooled by memories of high school band rehearsals and the supposed tuba’s lack of coolness. In the hands of a master such as Fossi, the instrument can stand next to the violin, trumpet, guitar or any other classical instrument. Give this record a listen, it won’t disappoint.”

by Matthew Warnock