MUSIC REVIEW ARCHIVES
"...to the ingratiating solos from trumpeter Mark Inouye...it was a performance to lift all spirits."
Gershwin - An American In Paris
"There were many expertly rendered solos, but one stood out, the melancholic song of the fisherman in Le Chant du Rossignol as played by Mark Inouye, the SFS’s Principal Trumpet. It was so beautiful, so simple, and so bittersweet."
Stravinsky - Le Chant du Rossignol
"Mark Inouye, the Symphony’s superb principal trumpeter, was more than just a partner to Wang in this performance — at certain junctures, he seemed to be spurring her on to even greater peaks of eloquence. His contribution to the slow movement, a long, dark-hued and muted soliloquy, was breathtaking in its shapely insinuation; in the finale, his ferociously bright attack seemed to lead both Wang and the orchestra galloping into the concerto’s concluding moments."
Shostakovitch - Piano Concerto No. 1
"...trumpeter Mark Inouye expressed it brilliantly during recent performances of the oratorio in Davies Symphony Hall. Mark Inouye is a front-runner for MVP when he solos..."
Phillip Campell, Dec. 2015 Bay Area Reporter
Handel - The Trumpet Shall Sound
Phillip Campell, Dec. 2015 Bay Area Reporter
Handel - The Trumpet Shall Sound
"Trumpeter Mark Inouye brings his delightful take on jazz to Davies Symphony Hall."
Stephen Smoliar, July 2015
"In an orchestra packed with virtuosos, Inouye still manages to stand out consistently for the tonal brilliance and expressiveness of his playing, not to mention a fearsome technique that makes even the most challenging passages sound like child’s play."
Haydn Trumpet Concerto
"Mark Inouye, the principal trumpet player, may be the best performer on his instrument in the world. He's a reason alone to go to the San Francisco Symphony these days."
Michael Strickland, Sept. 2014 Civic Center Blogspot
Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra
"Every element came through as cleanly as a piccolo, or Mark Inouye’s perfectly clarion principal trumpet."
Jeff Dunn, Sept. 2014 San Francisco Classical Voice
Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra
"Solos by principal trumpet Mark Inouye were sensational."
Janos Gereben, Sept. 2014 San Francisco Classical Voice
Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra
"...Mark Inouye, the Symphony's remarkable principal trumpet, who practically exploded out of the gate in a performance combining raw power and eloquent finesse. Playing his intricate assignment from memory like the quasi-concerto that it is, Inouye tore through the passagework of the outer movements with gleaming tone and a pointed, impeccably precise rhythmic touch."
Joshua Kosman, May 2014 San Franicsco Chronicle
Bach - Cantata No. 51
"...soloist Mark Inouye, the orchestra’s principal trumpet, caught all of the rhythmic verve and poke-in-the-ribs melodic fun."
Harvey Stelman, April 2014 Seen & Heard International
Shostakovitch - Piano Concerto
"...brilliant interplay between soloist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Mark Inouye, the Symphony's superb principal trumpeter...the two brought out all the inventive and elegant qualities of this quasi-double concerto, from the brisk, sardonic exuberance of the outer movements to the shadowy wistfulness of the slow waltz"
Joshua Kosman, April 2014 San Francisco Chronicle
Shostakovitch - Piano Concerto
“The orchestra's soloists are impressive, starting with a very virtuoso brass section. The first trumpet and post horn in the third movement, stand out for their profound musicality.”
Antoine Leboyer, March 22, 2014 Concerto.net GENEVA
Mahler - Symphony No. 3
"...the solo trumpet Mark Inouye, whose virtuosity is matchless.”
Patrick Georges Montaigu, March 22, 2014 ResMusica PARIS
Mahler - Symphony No. 3
“the trumpets and trombones shine starting with Mark Inouye's virtuoso trumpet in both the Kräftig solo and the Comodo scherzando, particularly the very last note, that seems never-ending.”
Gilles d’Heyres, March 19, 2014 ConcertoNet.com PARIS
Mahler - Symphony No. 3
"...the trumpet solo in the third movement so perfectly depicted the summer sun that it almost felt as if the audience was in the open air, experiencing the heat of the real thing outside the hall."
Penny Horner, March 18, 2014 Bachtrack LONDON
Mahler - Symphony No. 3
"The long and chromatically fecund unaccompanied trumpet prologue makes a point manifest: a badge of honour, please, to the San Francisco SO's lead trumpeter, who plays with such unity of tone that you begin to suspect he or she has had a sustain pedal hooked into the bell of the instrument."
Phillip Clark, Oct. 2013 Gramophone
Cowell - Synchrony
"Starting a San Francisco Symphony concert with a long solo from principal trumpeter Mark Inouye is like putting money in the bank. Whatever else may happen over the next two hours, you're already ahead of the game."
Joshua Kosman, Sept. 2013 San Francisco Chronicle
Mahler - Blumine
"...the unearthly purity and beauty of Inouye's playing during the concert's first minutes. Inouye's expansive solo - rendered with bright, liquid tone and phrased with a combination of fluidity and strength - led into a performance of exquisite allure."
Joshua Kosman, Sept. 2013 San Francisco Chronicle
Mahler - Blumine
"Mark Inouye played a solo so wonderful that, for the first time ever at Davies, we heard the audience applaud in the middle of the piece."
Antheil - Jazz Symphony
"...breathtaking virtuoso work by principal trumpet Mark Inouye's mischievous exploitation of the composer's instruction "to use all the tricks of the trade and ad-lib."
Janos Gereben, Sept. 2013 San Francisco Examiner
Antheil - A jazz Symphony
"Tuesday's performance featured two superb soloists: pianist Robin Sutherland . . . and trumpeter Mark Inouye (growling through his mute, like Ellington's Bubber Miley in '25)."
Antheil - A Jazz Symphony
"Here, again, Inouye dazzled with some first-rate trumpet work..."
Stephen Smoliar, Sept. 2013 Examiner.com
Gershwin - An American In Paris
"...and the gleamingly eruptive trumpet of Mark Inouye, made for an evocative finale."
Debussy - La Mer
"Principal trumpet Mark Inouye outdid even his own high standards,
delivering the best opening fanfare, and many other solo passages, that
I’ve ever heard in the work."
Jeff Dunn, Sept. 2012 San Francisco Classical Voice
Mahler - Symphony No. 5
"The orchestra, too, sounded at its finest. Each time Shostakovich returned to that lugubrious trumpet figure, principal trumpeter Mark Inouye delivered it with grace and eloquence."
Joshua Kosman, Sept. 2012 San Francisco Chronicle
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 11
"In the ovation that followed, there was a small, significant episode
that caught my eye: when Bychkov who generously shared the applause both
with individual musicians and the whole orchestra motioned to Inouye to
stand, the principal trumpet turned to the rest of the section and
waited until they stood with him. Bravo!"
Janos Gereben, Sept. 2012 San Francisco Classical Voice
Shostakovich - Sympohny No. 11
"Principal trumpeter Mark Inouye endowed the solo part with heartbreaking lyricism."
Joshua Kosman, May 2012 San Francisco Chronicle
Mahler - Blumine
"...was a dreamy voyage launched by a three-minute trumpet solo from eloquent principal Mark Inouye."
Andrew Patner, Mar. 2012 Chicago Sun-Times
Cowell - Synchrony
"Henry Cowell’s “Synchrony began with a sinuous, stunningly shaded extended trumpet solo by trumpet principal Mark Inouye."
Susan Isaacs Nisbett, Mar. 2012 Ann Arbor.com
Cowell - Synchrony
"...and trumpeter Mark Inouye brought his trademark warmth and suavity to the fisherman's song."
Joshusa Kosman, Mar. 2012 San Francisco Chronicle
Stravinksy - Le Chant du Rossignol
"...A Concord Symphony is turning out to be a real showcase for the entire orchestra, though several players deserve special mention ... trumpeter Mark Inouye ... whose pure sound might have been floating over Walden Pond in Thoreau, the last movement."
Richard Scheinin, Mar. 2012 San Jose Mercury News
Ives - A Concord Symphony
"There were excellent solo contributions ... especially trumpeter Mark
Inouye, whose every turn in the spotlight these days seems to elicit
greatness."
Joshua Kosman, Oct. 2011 San Francisco Chronicle
Stravinsky - Petroushka
"...the scherzo graced by a breathtakingly beautiful posthorn solo
delivered from the upper terrace by principal trumpeter Mark Inouye."
Joshua Kosman, Sept. 2011 San Francisco Chronicle
Mahler - Symphony No. 3
"...from the opening brass chorale to Mark Inouye's phenomenal, offstage, posthorn-imitating trumpet..."
Janos Gereben, Sept. 2011 San Francisco Classical Voice
Mahler - Symphony No. 3
"Copland's "Billy the Kid" Suite was an apt opener, full of zesty
rhythms and tuneful interchanges. A stunningly beautiful solo by
principal trumpeter Mark Inouye capped the performance's success."
Joshua Kosman, Sept. 2011 San Francisco Chronicle
Copland - Billy the Kid
"The gleaming tone, pinpoint intonation and evocative phrasing of
principal trumpet Mark Inouye's solos in excerpts from Act III of
Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" were the talk of the board meeting during the
concurrent annual conference of the Music Critics Association of North
America."
Barbara Jepson, Sept. 2011 Wall Street Journal
Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake
"A striking yet muted, minute-long trumpet solo by Inouye. It alone was worth the price of admission, the way he played it: This initial material was so inherently interesting that nothing better could be added during the remaining 12 minutes of the work. "
Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake
"A striking yet muted, minute-long trumpet solo by Inouye. It alone was worth the price of admission, the way he played it: This initial material was so inherently interesting that nothing better could be added during the remaining 12 minutes of the work. "
Jeff Dunn, Dec. 2010 San Francisco Classical Voice
Cowell - Synchrony
"The program began with Henry Cowell's "Synchrony," from 1930, beginning with plangent solo trumpet from Mark Inouye, who was superb all evening..."
Richard Sheinin, Dec. 2010 San Jose Mercury News
Cowell - Synchrony
"The piece starts with a long and fascinating solo for muted trumpet - eloquently rendered by principal Mark Inouye."
Joshua Kosman, Dec. 2010 San Francisco Chronicle
Cowell - Synchrony
". . . played with full dynamic force by the San Francisco Symphony’s potent brass section. Classy playing came particularly from trumpeter Mark Inouye..."
Dan Leeson, Feb. 2010 San Francisco Classical Voice
Bruckner - Symphony No. 6
"...all of the musicians were exceptional, with Mark Inouye making some brilliant sounds on trumpet."
Phillip Cambell, Feb. 2010 Bay Area Reporter
Stravinsky - Octet
"...the oratorio closed with a crashing of heaven's gates, with mounting fanfares impeccably led by principal trumpet Mark Inouye."
Richard Scheinin, Nov. 2009 The Mercury News
J.S. Bach - Christmas Oratorio
"Mark Inouye's dynamic opening trumpet blast, which promised great things."
Joshua Kosman, Oct. 2009 San Francisco Chronicle
Mahler - Symphony No. 5
"Inouye's offstage solo was a highlight of the evening, a sustained in- strumental song at once delicate, soaring, and heartwrenchingly pure."
Stevin Winn, Sept. 2009 SF Classical Voice
Mahler - Symphony No. 3
"...a luminous offstage posthorn solo by principal trumpeter Mark Inouye."
Joshua Kosman, Sept. 2009 San Francisco Chronicle
Mahler - Symphony No. 3
"...principal trumpet Mark Inouye played a measure or two of La Valse that was so perfectly executed - bright sound, flawless rhythm, just a great feel to it."
Richard Scheinin, Sept. 2009 The Mercury News
Ravel - La Valse
"The Kijé music elicited some of the orchestra's most transcendent playing of the festival, spearheaded by luminous solos from trumpeter Mark Inouye."
Joshua Kosman, June 2007 San Francisco Chronicle
Prokofiev - Lt. Kijé Suite
"The finely wrought cameos of the orchestra . . . the exquisite, muted trumpet work of Mark Inouye."
Richard Scheinin, Feb. 2007 San Jose Mercury News
Claude Debussy - Nocturnes
"Inouye delivers one heck of an impressive and compelling debut...Full of fire and fun to listen to..."
Edward Blanco, Nov. 2006 eJazzNews.com
The Trumpet & The Bull
"The Planets...highlighted the orchestra's power, particularly in the complicated trumpet passages ably performed by Principal Trumpet Mark Inouye, as well as its more trans-parent and gauzy textures in solo passages."
Allison Young, June 2006 Arts Houston Magazine
Gustav Holst - The Planets
"His often brilliant - sounding tone was tautly focused. His legato playing was sweet and supple."
Charles Ward, Feb. 2005 Houston Chronicle
Tartini Violin Concerto arr. for trumpet
"Inouye's playing, brilliant and buoyant"
Allan Ulrich, May 2001 San Francisco Chronicle
Jazz concert
"Inouye gave a suave, honey-toned account of the score."
James Roos, Oct. 1999 Miami Herald