It was composed in 2021 and premiered on 23 September 2021 by soloist Håkan Hardenberger and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig conducted by Andris Nelsons at Gewandhaus.

Widmann describes the work: After my hypertrophic virtuoso concert piece ad absurdum 20 years ago, I now felt the urge to compose a large-scale, angelic lyrical trumpet concerto: Towards Paradise.

The trumpet soloist sets off on a labyrinthine journey through a wide spectrum of psychological and tonal zones, also featuring wild and craggy orchestral abysses leading into the open—towards a utopian state of suspension.

[11][3][12] The solitary solo trumpet[13] starts playing offstage right side in lowest registers, the hall at the beginning in darkness.

[2] The sound of the trumpet is modified by following effects:[3][f] At the end, the light fades out and the soloist leaves the stage on the left side playing a "glimmering, ethereal high E♭", reaching an oasis.

"[12] Kevin Wells in Bachtrack: "labyrinth of textures and layers"[16] Jonathan Blumhofer in Boston Classical Review: "The solo writing is highly virtuosic in register, timbre and articulation."

[22] The film Im Labyrinth – Der Musiker Jörg Widmann accompanies the composer during the writing of the trumpet concerto from the first drafts to the world premiere.