- Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor: Malcolm Sargent, Norman Del Mar, Herbert Menges
- Composer: Benjamin Britten, Edmund Rubbra
- Audio CD (1 Oct 2001)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: EMI Classics
- ASIN: B00005Q2X5
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 247,472 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Track Listings
| 1. Pno Con in G, Op.55: I. Corymbus (Adagio: Calmo E Quasi Improvvisatore - Allegretto) - Denis Matthews |
| 2. Pno Con in G, Op.55: II. Dialogue (Lento E Solenne) - Denis Matthews |
| 3. Pno Con in G, Op.55: III. Danza Alla Rondo (Allegretto Gioioso) - Denis Matthews |
| 4. Prld And Fugue, Op.29: Prld - RPO/Norman Del Mar |
| 5. Prld And Fugue, Op.29: Fugue - RPO/Norman Del Mar |
| 6. Pno Con in D, Op.13 (Revised Version): I. Toccata (Allegro Molto E Con Brio) - Jacques Abram |
| 7. Pno Con in D, Op.13 (Revised Version): II. Waltz (Allegretto) - Jacques Abram |
| 8. Pno Con in D, Op.13 (Revised Version): III. Impromptu (Andante Lento) - Jacques Abram |
| 9. Pno Con in D, Op.13 (Revised Version): IV. March (Allegro Moderato, Sempre Alla Marcia) - Jacques Abram |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
This is at least the second re-release of the two concertos on this CD, their last reincarnation being in a box set of British piano concertos. The recordings date back to 1956, except Britten's Prelude and Fugue, which was done in 1964. The recording quality is what you would expect from that era. Quiet passages reveal quite a lot of tape hiss and the higher frequencies, especially in the strings, sound rather harsh. If these things bother you unduly, there are plenty of good modern recordings of the Britten and the fine version of the Rubbra played by Malcolm Binns.
The concerto by Rubbra is one of his most intriguing works. The first movement, corymbus, grows from a simple ascending G minor arpeggio, with the last note repeated three times. Material is extended each time it is reappears, hence the name 'corymbus' (a corymb is a flat flower head, each floret having longer and longer stalks to join the main stem - like cow parsley). The Dialogue is meditative and beautiful. The final Danza alla rondo is extrovert and tuneful. After a majestic passage, the arpeggio theme recurs, descending this time. This marks the beginning of the cadenza, which muses on this material in music of considerable beauty - Rubbra was not interested in mere display. A last flourish brings the piece to an end. The late Denis Matthews plays admirably but the playing of the BBC SO, under Sir Malcolm Sargent, is a bit rough at times.
Britten's Prelude and Fugue for 18-part String Orchestra. One can only marvel at the way he handles his material but the thematic material is not memorable. The performance by the RPO, under Norman del Mar, is good.
The Britten Piano Concerto (revised version) is the best on the CD in terms of performance and recording. The work itself bursts with virtuoso writing and playing and is great fun. The Toccata is a romp which ends poetically with the piano playing against high, soft string chords. The Waltz begins in a dream-like way, like a dimly remembered ball. At times, the atmosphere is redolent of Ravel's La Valse or even Malcolm Arnold. The Impromptu is a free passacaglia based on a short, haunting little tune which is difficult to get out of your head. This merges, with a drum roll, into the final March, another high-spirited and extrovert movement. The pianist, Jacques Abram, is excellent, and the Philharmonia Orchestra under Herbert Menges, gives suitable support.
My star rating does not take account of the age of the recordings. If history matters to you, the recordings of the concertos are world premiere ones. The price of the CD is very modest and it is good to have an alternative view of the Rubbra.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Brilliant British Piano Concertos
21 Feb 2004
Years ago I began buying titles in the EMI's British Composers Series in order to get classic performances by the great British conductors Sir Adrian Boult and Sir John Barbirolli. Along the way I discovered the equally impressive talents of conductors such as Sir Malcolm Sargent, Beecham disciple Norman Del Mar, and Herbert Menges, all three of whom are featured on this disc. The British Composers series has also been a way for me discover lesser-known works by figures like Britten and Rubbra, while still purchasing the vintage stereo performances that I so adore. In fact these 1956 recordings are the world premieres for both Concertos, performed by pianists Denis Matthews and Jacques Abram respectively. (Britten's Prelude and Fugue was recorded later in 1964). All of the pieces featured here are played to perfection and are thoroughly engaging. I highly recommend this disc for fans of British music.
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