I have been listening for ages how difficult was, and what a challenge it was for the soloist...For so long, that I was postponing for long time to study and learn it. Now, when I am very close to that end I am getting kind of disappointed
I found that once somebody get the chops (I am not yet there, but very close, I am working on it for about 3 weeks) there is no much of a challenge...The concerto is quite simple, so once one manages not to get distressed about those "freaky" high notes seems to be not that challenging as there should not much of rhythmic, timing, ensemble, texture or interpretation, intonation etc issues...
I just don't get it...The Brandenburg 2 seems to be much more challenging on the whole and yet, there is much more recordings of it then recordings of the above mentioned concerto...is it just that is not interesting enough?
The only 3 recordings I am aware of are Maurice Andre, Wynton Marsalis and Adolf Scherbaum...I have heard also of some Polish or Check trumpeter who recorded it, but never found a recording on nat...well I am playing it on my spada piccolo (the 1st valve slide trigger occurs to be very handy)... all of this looks quite surprising to me