Clare Hammond, BBC Symphony Orchestra, George Vass - Tippett – Britten – Walton (2025) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Three major works for piano and orchestra by English composers, all eschewing the traditional nineteenth-century model of a bravura virtuoso soloist pitted against an orchestra, in distinctive ways. Together with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under George Vass, Clare Hammond presents an original programme that provides a unique perspective on how the piano concerto reflected musical currents in mid-twentieth-century Britain. William Walton's Sinfonia Concertante for Orchestra with Piano Obbligato began as a ballet score. After it was rejected by Sergei Diaghilev, Walton arranged his scoreinto a leaner, more direct and more effective work thatreveals the influences of Stravinsky, Poulenc, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin and, at times, Elgar. Benjamin Britten's Diversions was commissioned by the left-hand pianist Paul Wittgenstein. Enthusiastic about the challenge of writing for the left hand, Britten devised a work in variation form; he did not seek to conceal the soloist's one-handedness, but revelled in it while still retaining emotion and grandeur. Michael Tippett's Piano Concerto completes the programme. Inspired by a performance of Beethoven's Fourth Concerto, Tippett was convinced that a contemporary concerto could be written, 'in which the piano is used once again for it's poetic capabilities'. In his work, the orchestra does not merely accompany; the principal players shine when they get their opportunity for solos or close dialogue with the soloist.

Tracklist:
1. Sinfonia Concertante: I. Maestoso (8:32)
2. Sinfonia Concertante: II. Andante comodo (5:54)
3. Sinfonia Concertante: III. Allegro vivo, sempre scherzando (4:56)
4. Diversions, Op. 21: Theme (1:12)
5. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation I. Recitative (1:38)
6. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation II. Romance (1:32)
7. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation III. March (1:20)
8. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation IV. Arabesque (1:36)
9. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation V. Chant (1:56)
10. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation VI. Nocturne (2:16)
11. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation VII. Badinerie (1:34)
12. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation VIII. Burlesque (1:50)
13. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation IXa. Toccata I (0:50)
14. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation IXb. Toccata II (2:12)
15. Diversions, Op. 21: Variation X. Adagio (4:08)
16. Diversions, Op. 21: Finale (Variation XI). Tarantella (2:55)
17. Piano Concerto: I. Allegro non troppo (17:07)
18. Piano Concerto: II. Molto lento e tranquillo (9:39)
19. Piano Concerto: III. Vivace (9:18)


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