INTRODUCTION

One of the most popular types of classical orchestral piece is the concerto. It is a rare concert indeed that does not feature one performed by a noted or upcoming pianist, violinist, cellist or other soloist demonstrating great prowess and/or sensitivity on his or her chosen instrument. In the vast majority of instances, the concerto being performed comes from a select group of works known as the "standard repertoire" that soloists, conductors and audiences know well and are invariably crowd pleasers. There is no doubt that these works represent the cream of the concerto repertoire. However, this does not mean that nothing else worthwhile exists among the voluminous output of the past two centuries that would both illuminate the skills of performers and gratify the ears and souls of the listeners. With one notable exception the international standard concerto repertoire is devoid of representation by British and Commonwealth composers. The exception is Elgar’s Cello Concerto and even in this instance one cannot compare its frequency of performance with works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, etc. The concertos of Walton and Britten make occasional appearances as well but rarely away from their native shores. However, since the onset of the nineteenth century concertos have been produced and performed in large quantities in the British Isles and in Britain’s overseas offshoots even if most music lovers are hardly aware of the existence of these works. Fortunately, for the curious, the world of the concert hall and world of recordings are quite divergent. It is the purpose of this work to document the huge number of recordings of concertos by British and Commonwealth composers that have been issued on LPs and CDs since these media have existed beginning in the middle of the twentieth century and to serve as a reference work for further study by others. Another tangential purpose is to survey the production of concertos in the stated time frame and to show the continuity between the generations of composers as a result of their education by their predecessors.

The composers included in this discography are those born in or who came to live in the United Kingdom, The Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Geography is the only determining factor for inclusion as there is no attempt here to argue for the existence of any so-called "British" concerto style that would cover such a vast range of composers.

A chronological structure has been used in order to show the progression of concertos from the early nineteenth century up to our own time. This chronology is based on the birth year of the composer rather than the year a concerto was written. A composer index is placed first so the reader can immediately go to any particular composer.

The entry for each composer consists of two sections. First there is a compact biographical paragraph that notes some essential information such as place of birth, higher musical education (including schools and prominent teachers), subsequent musical careers in addition to composing and selective lists of other works for orchestra. Compositional styles are not discussed in these paragraphs and readers are referred to the bibliography where various reference books that cover this subject are listed.

The second part of each composer entry consists of lists of his or her concertos that have been recorded and the various recordings of each work. A concerto is very broadly defined for the purposes of this book to include any work that has the word "concerto," "concertino" or "concertante" in its title whether or not a soloist is involved. Also included is any work in which an instrumental soloist is involved whatever its title may be. For every concerto that has them, the opus number, key signature and title are noted and the year of composition (when known) is stated for all. The entries of the concertos that have had multiple recordings are listed alphabetically by soloist’s name. Each listing of a recording consists of the following components (again, if known): (1) Performers – soloist(s), conductor, orchestra), (2) Other works on the recording. (3) Label and catalogue number and year of issue and (4) If the recording is a reissue, the original LP or CD release and its year of issue.

The author has endeavored to list every recording of every concerto written by a British or Commonwealth composer that has been published since the advent of the long-playing record in 1948. However, the following points should be kept in mind. The research was limited to sources in the English-speaking world. There has been no attempt to delve into the record catalogues of France, Germany or any other country that may have possibly produced an original recording of one of the covered concertos unless it was widely distributed in the UK or USA. Also, there has been no attempt to list every reissue of every recording. Some recordings, especially those made by the so-called "major labels," have been reissued so often, first on records then on compact discs, that the author has tried to confine the listings basically to only the most current and the original releases of each recording. Likewise, there has been no attempt to indicate whether recordings are mono or stereo (or any other audio system) or to comment about availability. Furthermore, as the focus of this book is British, the catalogue numbers identify British releases in the vast majority of instances. Finally, there is a strong certainty on the author’s part that a number of recordings have been missed. With the multiple thousands of recordings that have been issued over the past sixty years and the evanescence of so many of them one cannot but help in reaching this conclusion.

Nearly all of the recordings listed in this book are commercial issues that anyone could purchase if they happened to be around at the right time. However, also included here are a number of non-commercial or private LPs that were issued by governmental broadcasting organizations or music publishers that were not available to the general public. However, these types of recordings can be found in libraries and do turn up for sale at times so their existence ought to be documented. In addition there are a number of unauthorized or "pirate" LPs and CDs found in these pages. They were widely distributed and found their way into many collections and were in many instances the only available recording of a particular work. These recordings were issued with either the actual or pseudonymous names of performers. The symbol ▼ is used here to designate this type of recording.

*****

The term "concerto" was first used for a musical piece in the 17th century and was initially used to describe vocal music with instrumental accompaniment. Late in that century the concerto grosso came into being and this was an orchestral work in which a small group of instruments was contrasted with the larger ensemble. This would eventually develop into the solo concerto in the 18th century as a result of the work of composers such as Vivaldi and J.S. Bach. However, it is with Mozart that the classical concerto came into being and his works established the standard that would be adhered to by the vast majority of concerto-writers who succeeded him. The concerto came to the British Isles, as did most other classical forms, in the hands of foreign composers who came to work in England. George Frederick Handel composed numerous concerti grossi and solo concertos and he was followed by other distinguished Continental musicians including Carl Friedrich Abel and Johann Christian Bach. The solo concerto was well established by the beginning of the 19th century and many British composers began writing them especially for the piano. In the 20th century the concerto grosso re-emerged and it was joined by the concerto for orchestra as a very popular form.

*****

It should be very clear from the pages that follow that the concerto as written by British and Commonwealth composers has been well documented on recordings. This is especially true for composers who lived or live in the United Kingdom itself. Over the years and particularly since the advent of the compact disc more and more previously unrecorded symphonies have become available. Many composers whose names and works used to exist only in reference books and footnotes are now being heard after many years of dormancy. The British record industry deserves special commendation for this situation as it has continually kept the collector well supplied with numerous novelties to explore. These pioneering recording efforts have been aided by subsidies from governmental agencies, regional arts councils, composers' trusts and societies and private companies. In the early LP era the major labels EMI and Decca led the way with their championship of Elgar and Vaughan Williams and some forays into more unknown regions. Over the last three decades, however, these types of projects have increasingly found their homes on independent British labels such as Lyrita, Chandos, Hyperion, NMC, Dutton Vocalion, Toccata Classics and ASV. Hong Kong based Naxos, now the world's biggest producer of classical CDs, has also become a major source for original recordings of unusual British repertoire on both its Marco Polo and bargain-priced Naxos labels. © Michael Herman October 2007

***** n.b. Any recording that is not designated as an LP is a CD,

As this work will be updated from time to time, the author invites anyone with corrections or information about other recordings that may have been overlooked to contact him at: mherman@mindspring.com

*****

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following people for their help in the preparation of this book: Rob Barnett and Len Mullenger at MusicWeb International, Linda Kirkpatrick at the Australian Music Centre, Christopher Ball, Hubert Culot, David F. Golightly, Allan Ho, Callum Kenmuir, Timothy Reynish and Ian Scott.

ALPHABETICAL COMPOSER INDEX
(Entries are arranged by composer’s birth date)
Abbott, Clifford
Adaskin, Murray
Addinsell, Richard
Addison, John
Adès, Thomas
Albert, Eugène d’
Alwyn, William
Arnell, Richard
Arnold, Malcolm
Ashmore, Lawrence
Bache, Francis Edward
Bainbridge, Simon
Baker, Michael Conway
Ball, Christopher
Banks, Don
Bantock, Granville
Bath, Hubert
Bax, Arnold
Beamish, Sally
Beck, David
Bedford, David
Benjamin, Arthur
Bennett, Richard Rodney
Bennett, William Sterndale
Berkeley, Lennox
Berkeley, Michael
Binge, Ronald
Birtwistle, Harrison
Blackburn, Maurice
Blake, Christopher
Blake, David
Blake, Howard
Blezard, William
Bliss, Arthur
Boughton, Rutland
Bowen, York
Boydell, Brian
Bracanin, Philip
Brian, Havergal
Bridge, Frank
Britten Benjamin
Brott, Alexander
Brumby, Colin
Bryars, Gavin
Buckley, John
Bullard, Alan
Burrell, Diana
Busch, William
Bush, Alan
Bush, Geoffrey
Butterley, Nigel
Butterworth, Arthur
Camilleri, Charles
Carmichael, John
Carr, Edwin
Carwithen, Doreen
Casken, John
Chagrin, Francis
Champagne, Claude
Chisholm, Erik
Coates, Douglas
Coates, Eric
Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel
Conyngham, Barry
Cooke, Arnold
Corcoran, Frank
Coulthard, Jean
Cowie, Edward
Cramer, Johann Baptist
Creswell, Lyell
Crosse, Gordon
Crotch, William
Cruft, Adrian
Darnton, Christian
Davies, Peter Maxwell
Davies, Victor
Delius, Frederick
Dickinson, Peter
Docker, Robert
Dodgson, Stephen
Dompierre, François
Dring, Madeline
Dyson, George
Eckhardt-Grammaté, Sophie- Carmen
Edwards, Ross
Elgar, Edward
Ellis. David
Evans, Lindley
Farnon, Robert
Farquhar, David
Farrar, Ernest
Ferguson, Howard
Fiala, George
Field, John
Finzi, Gerald
Fogg, Eric
Forsyth, Cecil
Forsyth, Malcolm
Foulds, John
Frankel, Benjamin
Fricker, Peter Racine
Gál, Hans
Gardner, John
Gerhard, Roberto
Gibbs. Cecil Armstrong
Gipps, Ruth
Glanville-Hicks, Peggy
Goehr, Alexander
Goldschmidt, Berthold
Golightly, David F.
Golland, John
Goodman, Isador
Goossens, Eugene
Gowers, Patrick
Gregson,Edward
Gross, Eric
Gunning, Christopher
Hamilton. Iain
Hanson, Raymond
Harper, Edward
Harrison, Julius
Hart, Fritz
Harty, Hamilton
Harvey, Jonathan
Headington, Christopher
Healey, Derek
Heath, David C.
Hedges, Anthony
Hétu, Jacques
Hewitt-Jones, Tony
Hill, Alfred
Hoddinott, Alun
Holbrooke, Joseph
Holloway, Robin
Holst, Gustav
Hope, Peter
Hopkins, Antony
Horovitz, Joseph
Howells, Herbert
Hurd, Michael
Hurlstone, William
Hurst, Michael
Hutchens, Frank
Hyde, Miriam
Ireland, John
Jackson, Francis
Jacob, Gordon
Jeffreys, John
Josephs, Wilfred
Kats-Chernin, Elena
Keal, Minna
Kenmuir, Callum
Kerry, Gordon
Klatzow, Peter
Knussen, Oliver
Koehne, Graeme
Lambert, Constant
Lane, Philip
Langford, Gordon
Leigh, Walter
Leighton, Kenneth
Litolff, Henry Charles
Lloyd, George
Lovelock, William
Lucas, Leighton
Lutyens, Elizabeth
Lyon, David
MacDonald, Andrew
MacDonald, Malcolm
Mackenzie, Alexander Campbell
MacMillan, James
Maconchy, Elizabeth
Martin, Philip
Mathias, William
Mathieu, André
Matthews, Colin
Matthews, David
Matton, Roger
Maw, Nicholas
McCabe, John
McCauley, William
McPhee, Colin
Merrick, Frank
Milford, Robin
Mills, Richard
Moeran, Ernest John
Montgomery, Bruce
Moon, Chloe
Morawetz, Oskar
Morgan, David R.
Muldowney, Dominic
Murrill, Herbert
Musgrave, Thea
Nyman, Michael
Ogdon. John
Osborne, Nigel
Panufnik, Andrzej
Papineau-Couture, Jean
Parish-Alvars, Elias
Parrott, Ian
Parry, Hubert
Patterson, Paul
Paul, Alan
Pehkonen, Elis
Penberthy, James
Pentland, Barbara
Phillips, Montague
Pitfield, Thomas
Proctor-Gregg, Humphrey
Rajna, Thomas
Rawsthorne, Alan
Reizenstein, Franz
Ridout, Alan
Ritchie, Anthony
Ritchie, John
Rootham, Cyril
Rowley, Alex
Rubbra, Edmund
Saxton, Robert
Schurmann, Gerard
Scott, Cyril
Sculthorpe, Peter
Searle, Humphrey
Seiber, Mátyás
Simpson, Robert
Sitsky, Larry
Smalley, Roger
Smyth, Ethel
Somers, Harry
Somervell, Arthur
Stanford, Charles Villiers
Stephenson, Allan
Steptoe, Roger
Stevens, Bernard
Stevens, James
Stevenson, Ronald
Sullivan, Arthur
Sutherland, Margaret
Taylor, Matthew
Tippett, Michael
Torch, Sidney
Tovey, Donald Francis
Tunley, David
Vaughan Williams, Ralph
Veale, John
Vine, Carl
Vinter, Gilbert
Walton, William
Watkins, Michael Blake
Weinzweig, John
Weir, Judith
Wellesz, Egon
Werder, Felix
Westlake, Nigel
Whettam, Graham
Whitlock, Percy
Willan, Healy
Williams, Charles
Williams, Grace
Williamson, Malcolm
Wilson, James
Wilson, Thomas
Wood, Haydn
Wood, Hugh
Woolfenden, Guy
 

Sources of information

JOHANN BAPTIST CRAMER

(1771-1858)

Born in Mannheim, Germany, he was brought to England as an infant. He studied initially with his father who was an accomplished violinist and then with Muzio Clementi and C.F. Abel. His musical career began as a concert pianist and he became well known both in England and the Continent. He later became an important pedagogue of the piano in Munich and Paris and was deeply involved in musical publishing. His compositional output naturally centered around the piano and included 9 Piano Concertos, 50 Piano Sonatas and many other works for the piano that ranged from the salon to the pedagogic. He was a friend of Beethoven.

Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 16 (1797)

Howard Shelley (piano and Conductor)/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 7 and 8)
CHANDOS CHAN 10005 (2002)

Piano Concerto No. 5 in C minor, Op. 48 (1811)

Akiko Sagara (piano)/Pierre Cao/Luxembourg Radio Orchestra
( + Clementi: Piano Concerto, Hummel: Piano Concertino, Field: Piano Concerto No. 2, Czerny: Divertissement and Ries: Piano Concerto No. 2)
VOX BOX CDX5111 (1996)
(original US LP release: TURNABOUT TVS 34608) (1969)

Piano Concerto No. 7 in E major, Op. 56 (1816)

Howard Shelley (piano and Conductor)/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 8)
CHANDOS CHAN 10005 (2002)

Piano Concerto No. 8 in D minor, Op. 70 (1825)

Howard Shelley (piano and Conductor)/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 7)
CHANDOS CHAN 10005 (2002)

Jeffrey Shumway (piano)/Kory Katseanes/Brigham Young University Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Mendelssohn: 2 Piano Concero in E)
DESERET CD 77916 (2006)

WILLIAM CROTCH
(1775-1847)

Born in Norwich. He was a child prodigy whose first public appearance was at the age of three and a half. His musical education was at Oxford where he was later appointed a professor and he also taught at the Royal Academy of Music. He was best known as an organist and pedagogue, but his compositions received many performances in his lifetime, especially his choral works. In addition to the Concerto listed here, his mature orchestral output also includes 2 Symphonies (one of which was unfinished) and 2 other Organ Concertos.

Organ Concerto No. 2 in A flat major (c. 1805)

Andrew Lumsden (organ)/Hilary Davan Wetton/Milton Keynes Chamber Orchestra
( + Symphony in F major, Symphony in E flat major and Overture in G major)
UNICORN-KANCHANA DKPCD 9126 (1992)

JOHN FIELD
(1782-1837)

Born in Dublin. He came from a musical family and received his first training from them as well as some professional lessons while still in Dublin. At the age of eleven he went to London to study with Muzio Clementi (who also gave him employment as a piano salesman) and embarked upon a performing career that took him around Europe, eventually settling temporarily in Russia where he taught as well as performed. He wrote almost exclusively for the piano and was the first to write piano pieces called "nocturnes."

Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major (1799)

Sondra Bianca (piano)/Randolph Jones/Philharmonia Orchestra of Hamburg
( + Nocturnes Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12)
MGM E3476 (LP) (1957)

Felicja Blumental (piano)/Helmuth Froschauer/Vienna Chamber Orchestra
( + Hummel: Rondo Brilliant on Russian Themes)
UNICORN UNS227 (LP) (1971)

Benjamin Frith (piano)/David Haslam/Northern Sinfonia
( + Piano Concerto No. 3)
NAXOS 8553770 (1998)

John O'Conor (piano)/János Fürst/New Irish Chamber Orchestra
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
ONYX CD101/103 (3 CDs)(1993)
(original LP release: TOL CSM 55/58 {3 LPs}) (1982)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concerto No. 2)
CHANDOS CHAN 9368 (1995)

Piano Concerto No. 2 in A flat major (1811)

Benjamin Frith (piano)/David Haslam/Northern Sinfonia
( + Piano Concerto No. 4)
NAXOS 8553771(1999)

Rena Kyriakou (piano)/Carl-August Bünte/Berlin Symphony Orchestra
( + Clementi: Piano Concerto, Hummel: Piano Concertino, Cramer: Piano Concerto No. 5, Czerny: Divertissement and Ries: Piano Concerto No. 2)
VOX BOX CDX5111 (1996)
(original LP release: VOX STGBY625 (1969)

John O'Conor (piano)/János Fürst/New Irish Chamber Orchestra
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
ONYX CD101/103 (3 CDs)(1993)
(original LP release: TOL CSM 55/58 {3 LPs}) (1982)

John O'Conor (piano)/Sir Charles Mackerras/Scottish Chamber Orchestra
( + Piano Concerto No. 3)
TELARC CD80370 (1994)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concerto No. 1)
CHANDOS CHAN 9368 (1995)

Andreas Staier (piano)/David Stern/Concerto Cologne
( + Piano Concerto No. 3)
ELATUS 0927496102 (2003)
(original CD release: TELDEC 3984214752) (1999)

Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major (1811)

Felicja Blumental (piano)/Helmuth Froschauer/Vienna Chamber Orchestra
( + Czerny:Piano Concerto No. 1)
TURNABOUT TV34389S (LP) (1972)

Benjamin Frith (piano)/David Haslam/Northern Sinfonia
( + Piano Concerto No. 1)
NAXOS 8553770 (1998)

John O'Conor (piano)/János Fürst/New Irish Chamber Orchestra
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
ONYX CD101/103 (3 CDs)(1993)
(original LP release: TOL CSM 55/58 {3 LPs}) (1982)

John O'Conor (piano)/Sir Charles Mackerras/Scottish Chamber Orchestra
( + Piano Concerto No. 2)
TELARC CD80370 (1994)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concerto No. 5)
CHANDOS CHAN 9495 (1996)

Andreas Staier (piano)/David Stern/Concerto Cologne
( + Piano Concerto No. 2)
ELATUS 0927496102 (2003)
(original CD release: TELDEC 3984214752) (1999)

Piano Concerto No. 4 in E flat major (1814, rev. 1819)

Benjamin Frith (piano)/David Haslam/Northern Sinfonia
( + Piano Concerto No. 2)
NAXOS 8553771(1999)

John O'Conor (piano)/János Fürst/New Irish Chamber Orchestra
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7)
ONYX CD101/103 (3 CDs)(1993)
(original LP release: TOL CSM 55/58 {3 LPs}) (1982)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concerto No. 6)
CHANDOS CHAN 9442 (1996)

Piano Concerto No. 5 in C major "L’Incendie par l'Orage" (1817)

Benjamin Frith (piano)/David Haslam/Northern Sinfonia
( + Piano Concerto No. 6)
NAXOS 8554221 (2001)

John O'Conor (piano)/János Fürst/New Irish Chamber Orchestra
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7)
ONYX CD101/103 (3 CDs)(1993)
(original LP release: TOL CSM 55/58 {3 LPs}) (1982)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concerto No. 3)
CHANDOS CHAN 9495 (1996)

Piano Concerto No. 6 in C major (1819, rev. 1822)

Benjamin Frith (piano)/David Haslam/Northern Sinfonia
( + Piano Concerto No. 5)
NAXOS 8554221 (2001)

John O'Conor (piano)/János Fürst/New Irish Chamber Orchestra
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7)
ONYX CD101/103 (3 CDs)(1993)
(original LP release: TOL CSM 55/58 {3 LPs}) (1982)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concerto No. 4)
CHANDOS CHAN 9442 (1996)

Piano Concerto No. 7 in C minor (1822, rev.1822-32)

John O'Conor (piano)/János Fürst/New Irish Chamber Orchestra
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
ONYX CD101/103 (3 CDs)(1993)
(original LP release: TOL CSM 55/58 {3 LPs}) (1982)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Divertissements Nos.1 and 2, Rondeau, Nocturne No.16 and Quintetto)
CHANDOS CHAN 9537 (1997)

Divertissement for Piano and Strings No. 1 in E major (c. 1810)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concerto No. 7, Divertissement No. 2, Rondeau, Nocturne No.16 and Quintetto)
CHANDOS CHAN 9537 (1997)

Divertissement for Piano and Strings No. 2 in A major (c. 1811)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concerto No. 7, Divertissement No. 1, Rondeau, Nocturne No.16 and Quintetto)
CHANDOS CHAN 9537 (1997)

Rondeau for Piano and Strings in A flat major (before 1799)

Míceál O'Rourke (piano)/Matthias Bamert/London Mozart Players
( + Piano Concerto No. 7, Divertissements Nos. 1 and 2, Nocturne No.16 and Quintetto)
CHANDOS CHAN 9537 (1997)

Eckart Sellheim (piano)/Collegium Aureum
( + Boccherini: Piano Concerto and Schobert: Piano Concerto)
EDITIO CLASSICO 77005-2 (1990)

ELIAS PARISH-ALVARS
(1808-1849)

Born in Teignmouth, Devon. As a teenager he studied the harp with François-Joseph Dizi and Nicholas-Charles Bochsa and was also taught by Théodore Labarre. While pursuing a career as a harp (and piano) recitalist all ever Europe with a base in Vienna he also composed works for his instrument (at least 2 additional concertos) as well as 2 Piano Concertos and a Symphony in E minor.

Harp Concerto in G minor, Op. 81 "Grand" (1845)

Marielle Nordmann (harp)/Jean-Pierre Rampal/Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra
( + Boieldieu: Harp Concerto and Viotti: Harp Concerto)
SONY 58919 (1995)

Nicanor Zabaleta (harp)/Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos/Spanish National Orchestra
( + Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez {arr. for harp and orchestra})
HMV ASD 3034 (LP) (1974)

Concerto for 2 Harps and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 91 (c. 1847)

Xavier de Maistre and Emmanuel Ceysson (harps)/Hannu Lintu/Rheinland-Pfalz State Philharmonic
( + Reinecke: Harp Concerto and Zabel: Harp Concerto)
CLAVES 50-2607 (2006)

Harp Concerto in E flat, Op. 98 (1849)

Marielle Nordmann (harp)/Theodor Guschlbauer/Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Harp Concertino and Fantaisie)
FNAC MUSIC 592266 (1993)

SIR WILLIAM STERNDALE BENNETT

(1816-1875)

Born in Sheffield. He studied with Charles Lucas, William Henry Holmes (1812-1885, composed a Symphony in B minor and several others) and William Crotch at the Royal Academy of Music and went to Germany in 1833 where he was championed by Mendelssohn and Schumann. He conducted and taught at Cambridge and the Royal Academy of which he became Principal. In addition to the Piano Concertos, he wrote 5 Symphonies while still a student and an additional one later on as well as several concert overtures.

Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 1 (1832)

Malcolm Binns (piano)/Nicholas Braithwaite/London Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Piano Concerto No. 3 and Caprice)
LYRITA SRCD. 204 (1990)

Piano Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 4 (1833)

Malcolm Binns (piano)/Nicholas Braithwaite/London Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Piano Concerto No. 5 and Adagio)
LYRITA SRCD. 205 (1990)

Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 9 (1834)

Malcolm Binns (piano)/Nicholas Braithwaite/London Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Piano Concerto No. 1 and Caprice)
LYRITA SRCD. 204 (1990)

Piano Concerto No. 4 in F minor (1838)

Malcolm Binns (piano)/Hilary Davan Wetton/Milton Keynes Chamber Orchestra
( + Symphony (No. 5) in G minor and Fantasy)
UNICORN-KANCHANA UKCD 2032 (1999)
(original LP release: MILTON KEYNES MUSIC SERIES MKM 861) (1986)

Howard Shelley (piano and conductor)/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
( + Caprice and Bache: Piano Concerto)
HYPERION CDA67595 (2007)

Piano Concerto No. 5 in F minor (1836)

Malcolm Binns (piano)/Nicholas Braithwaite/London Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Piano Concerto No. 2 and Adagio)
LYRITA SRCD. 205 (1990)

Caprice in E major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 22 (1840-1)

Malcolm Binns (piano)/Nicholas Braithwaite/London Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 3)
LYRITA SRCD. 204 (1990)

Adagio for Piano and Orchestra (c. 1837)

Malcolm Binns (piano)/Nicholas Braithwaite/London Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Piano Concerto Nos. 2 and 5)
LYRITA SRCD. 205 (1990)

HENRY CHARLES LITOLFF
(1818-1891)

Born in London. He was musically precocious, studied with Ignaz Moscheles and made his debut in London at the age of fourteen. Within a few years he was on the Continent where he became famous as a piano virtuoso and music publisher. In addition to his 5 Concertos Symphoniques ( No. I is lost), he composed a Violin Concerto, several concert overtures, operas and oratorios. The Scherzo movement of the 4^th Concerto Symphonique has had a life on its own and has kept the composer’s name alive.

Concerto Symphonique No. 2 in B minor, Op. 22 (1844)

Peter Donohoe (pno)/Andrew Litton/Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
( + Concerto Symphonique No. 4)
HYPERION CDA66889 (1997)

Concerto Symphonique No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 45 "Concerto National Hollandais" (1846)

Peter Donohoe (pno)/Andrew Litton/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
( + Concerto Symphonique No. 5)
HYPERION CDA67210 (2001)

Michael Ponti (piano)/Volker Schmidt-Gertenbach/Berlin Symphony Orchestra
( + Hiller: Piano Concerto, Mendelssohn: Capriccio Brilliant, Moscheles: Piano Concerto in G, Reinecke: Piano Concerto No. 1 and Josef Rheinberger: Piano)
VOX CDX 5065 (2 CDs) (2001)
(original LP release: CANDIDE QCE 31112) (1979)

Concerto Symphonique No. 4 in D minor, Op. 102 (1851-2)

Peter Donohoe (pno)/Andrew Litton/ Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
( + Concerto Symphonique No. 2)
HYPERION CDA66889 (1997)

Gerald Robbins (piano)/Edouard van Remoortel/Monte- Carlo Opera Orchestra
( + Piano Trio in D minor)
GENESIS GCD 101 (1989)
(original LP release: GENESIS GS 1035) (1973)

Concerto Symphonique No. 5 in C minor, Op. 123 (1870)

Peter Donohoe (pno)/Andrew Litton/ BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
( + Concerto Symphonique No. 3 )
HYPERION CDA67210 (2001)

FRANCIS EDWARD BACHE
(1833-1858)

Born in Birmingham. He had a thorough musical education at first with Sterndale Bennett in London and then with Louis Plaidy, Moritz Hauptmann and Johann Schneider on the Continent. His brief lifetime included the twin careers of performer and composer and he managed to write operas as well as works for orchestra and solo instruments.

Piano Concerto in E major, Op. 18 (1852)

Howard Shelley (piano and conductor)/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
( + Sterndale Bennett: Piano Concerto No. 4 and Caprice)
HYPERION CDA67595 (2007)

SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN
(1842-1900)

Born in London. The son of a bandmaster, he studied with William Sterndale Bennett, Arthur O’Leary and John Goss at the Royal Academy and went to Leipzig for further study with Ignaz Moscheles, Julius Rietz and Ferdinand David. In addition to composing, he had great success as a conductor and was also a teacher and organist. He gained immortality for his operas written with W.S.Gilbert. His other orchestral works include a Symphony, 6 concert overtures and several marches.

Cello Concerto in D major (1866)

Julian Lloyd Webber (cello)/Sir Charles Mackerras/London Symphony Orchestra
( + Symphony in E major, Overture di Ballo and Elgar: Romance for Cello and Orchestra)
EMI CLASSICS CDM 7 64726 2 (1993)
(original CD release: EMI CDC 7 47622-2) (1987)

Martin Ostertag (cello)/Klaus Arp/Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra
( + Gulda: Cello Concerto)
AMATI 9703 (1999)

Paul Watkins (cello)/Sir Charles Mackerras/BBC Symphony Orchestra
( + Macbeth Overture and Te Deum)
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE MM 203 (2001)

SIR ALEXANDER CAMPBELL MACKENZIE
(1847-1935)

Born in Edinburgh. As a child he was sent to Germany to study with K. W. Ulrich and Eduard Stein. Returning to England he completed his studies at the Royal Academy of Music under Prosper Sainton, Frederick Jewson and Charles Lucas. He later became Principal of that institution, a post he held for 36 years while also pursuing a career as a conductor and composer. He composed prolifically in many genres ranging from opera to solo instrumental works. His other works for orchestra include 3 Scottish Rhapsodies, Highland Ballad for Violin and Orchestra and Larghetto and Allegro for Cello and Orchestra.

Scottish Concerto in G major, Op. 55 (1897)

Steven Osborne (piano)/Martyn Brabbins/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
( + Donald Tovey: Piano Concerto)
HYPERION CDA67023 (1998)

Violin Concerto in C sharp minor, Op. 32 (1884-5)

Malcolm Stewart (violin)/Vernon Handley/Royal Scottish National Orchestra
( + Pibroch Suite)
HYPERION CDA66975 (1998)

Pibroch Suite for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 42 (1889)

Rachel Barton Pine (violin)/Alexander Platt/Scottish Chamber Orchestra
( + Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, McEwen: Scottish Rhapsody, Sarasate: Airs Ecossaises and Barton Fine: Medley of Scots Tunes)
CEDILLE RECORDS CDR90000083 (2 CDs) (2005)

Malcolm Stewart (vioin)/Vernon Handley/Royal Scottish National Orchestra
( + Violin Concerto)
HYPERION CDA66975 (1998)

SIR (CHARLES) HUBERT H. PARRY
(1848-1918)

Born in Bournemouth. He studied with Henry Hugo Pierson in Stuttgart and William Sterndale Bennett and George Macfarren at the Royal Academy of Music and became one of the leading composers of his time. At the Royal College of Music, together with Stanford, Parry taught a long list of prominent British composers. His musical catalogue is vast and is particularly dominated by choral works. Among his other major orchestral works are a 5 Symphonies, Symphonic Variations and the symphonic poem, "From Death to Life." His setting of William Blake’s "Jerusalem" is practically a second national anthem.

Piano Concerto in F sharp major (1880)

Piers Lane (piano)/Martyn Brabbins/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
( + Stanford: Piano Concerto No. 1)
HYPERION CDA66820 (1995)

SIR CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD
(1852-1924)

Born in Dublin. After private studies with Arthur O’Leary and Robert P. Stewart as well as additional lessons at Cambridge, Stanford had further training in Germany by the eminent composers Carl Reinecke and Friedrich Kiel. He was one of the twin pillars of the Royal College of Music (along with Parry) responsible for the teaching of almost an entire generation of important British composers. Besides the Concertos, Stanford’s orchestral works include 7 Symphonies, 4 other Irish Rhapsodies and an Irish Concertino for Violin, Cello and Orchestra.

Piano Concerto No. 1 in G major, Op. 59 (1894)

Piers Lane (piano)/Martyn Brabbins/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
( + Parry: Piano Concerto)
HYPERION CDA66820 (1995)

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 126 (1911)

Malcolm Binns (piano)/Nicholas Briathwaite/London Symphony Orchestra
( + Irish Rhapsody No. 4 and Becket: Funeral March)
LYRITA SRCD.219 (1992)
(original LP release: LYRITA SRCS.102) (1985)

Margaret Fingerhut (piano)/Vernon Handley/Ulster Orchestra( + Concert Variations upon an English Theme "Down Among the Dead Men" and Irish Rhapsodies Nos. 1 – 6)
CHANDOS CLASSICS CHAN 10116 (2 CDs) (2004)
(original CD release: CHANDOS CHAN 8736) (1989)

Andreas Jetter (piano)/Dmitri Vassiliev/Rostov Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Schumann: Introduction and Allegro Appassionato)
ANTES 9186 (2003)

Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 171 (1919, orch. by Geoffrey Bush)

Malcolm Binns (piano)/Nicholas Braithwaite/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Cello Concerto)
LYRITA SRCD.321 (2007)

Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 74 (1899)

Anthony Marwood (violin)/Martyn Brabbins/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
( + Suite for Violin and Orchestra)
HYPERION CDA67208 (2000)

Cello Concerto in D minor (1879-80)

Alexander Baillie (cello)/ Nicholas Braithwaite/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Piano Concerto No. 3)
LYRITA SRCD.321 (2007)

Clarinet Concerto in A minor, Op. 80 (1902)

Janet Hilton (clarinet)/Vernon Handley/Ulster Orchestra
( + Symphony No. 2)
CHANDOS CHAN 8991 (1991)

Emma Johnson (clarinet)/Sir Charles Groves/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
( + 3 Intermezzi and Finzi: Clarinet Concerto and 5 Bagatelles)
ASV 787 (1993)

Dame Thea King (clarinet)/Alun Francis/Philharmonia Orchestra
( + Finzi: Clarinet Concerto)
HYPERION HELIOS CDH55101 (2001)
(original LP release: HYPERION A66001) (1980)

Frederick Thurston (clarinet)/Stanford Robinson/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (rec. 1952)
( + Fibich: Moods, Impressions and Reminiscences {excerpts},Quintet and Ireland: Fantasy Sonata)
SYMPOSIUM 1259 (2003)

Concert Variations upon an English Theme "Down Among the Dead Men" Op. 71 (1898)

Margaret Fingerhut (piano)/Vernon Handley/Ulster Orchestra
( + Piano Concerto No. 2 and Irish Rhapsodies Nos. 1 – 6)
CHANDOS CLASSICS CHAN 10116 (2 CDs) (2004)
(original CD release: CHANDOS CHAN 8736) (1989)

Suite for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 32 (1888)

Anthony Marwood (violin)/Martyn Brabbins/BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
( + Violin Concerto)
HYPERION CDA67208 (2000)

Concert Piece for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 181

Gillian Weir (organ)/Vernon Handley/Ulster Orchestra
( + Symphony No. 7 and Irish Rhapsody No. 3)
CHANDOS CHAN 8861 (1990)

Irish Rhapsody No. 3 for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 137 (c. 1915)

Raphael Wallfisch (cello)/Vernon Handley/Ulster Orchestra
( + Symphony No. 7 and Concert Piece for Organ and Orchestra)
CHANDOS CHAN 8861 (1990)

Irish Rhapsody No. 6 for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 191 (c. 1923)

Lydia Mordkovitch (violin)/Vernon Handley/Ulster Orchestra
( + Symphony No. 4 and Oedipus Rex: Prelude)
CHANDOS CHAN 8884 (1990)

SIR EDWARD ELGAR
(1857-1934)

Born in Broadheath, Worcestershire, Elgar was the son of a music shop owner and received only private musical instruction. Despite this he is arguably England’s greatest composer some of whose orchestral music has traveled around the world more than any of his compatriots. In addition to the Conceros, his 3 Symphonies and Enigma Variations are his other orchestral masterpieces. His many other works for orchestra, including the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Falstaff and Cockaigne Overture have been recorded numerous times. He was appointed Master of the King’s Musick in 1924.

 

Piano Concerto (arranged by Robert Walker from sketches, drafts and recordings) (1913/2004)

David Owen Norris (piano)/David Lloyd-Jones/BBC Concert Orchestra
( + Four Songs {orch. Haydn Wood}, Adieu, So Many True Princesses, Spanish Serenade, The Immortal Legions and Collins: Elegy in Memory of Edward Elgar)
DUTTON EPOCH CDLX 7148 (2005)

 

Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 (1909-10)

Salvatore Accardo (violin)/Richard Hickox/London Symphony Orchestra
( + Walton: Violin Concerto)
REGIS RRC 1014

(original CD release: COLLINS CLASSICS COL 1338-2) (1992)

Hugh Bean (violin)/Sir Charles Groves/Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Violin Sonata, Piano Quintet, String Quartet, Concert Allegro and Serenade)
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE CDCFP 585908-2 (2 CDs) (2004)
(original LP release: HMV ASD2883) (1973)

Alfredo Campoli (violin)/Sir Adrian Boult/London Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto)
BEULAH 1PD10 (1994)
(original LP release: DECCA LXT5014) (1955)

Leland Chen (violin)/Sir Yehudi Menuhin/Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1)
UPBEAT CLASSICS URCD115 (1995)

Kyung-Wha Chung (violin)/Sir Georg Solti/London Philharmonic Orchestra
( + Cello Concerto, Enigma Variations and Cockaigne Overture)
DECCA BRITISH MUSIC 473085-2 (2 CDs) (2002)
(original LP release: DECCA SXL6842) (1977)

James Ehnes/ Sir Andrew Davis/Philharmonia Orchestra
( + Serenade for Strings)
ONYX 4025 (2007)

Philippe Graffin (violin)/Vernon Handley/Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (original version)
( + Chausson: Poème)
AVIE AV2091 (2006)

Ilya Grubert(violin)/Vladimir Ziva/Moscow Symphony Orchestra
( + In the South Overture and Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1)
VISTA VERA WCD00048 (2004)

Ida Haendel (violin)/Sir Adrian Boult/London Philharmonic Orchestra
( + J.S. Bach: Partita No. 2)
Testament SBT1146 (1998)
(original LP release: HMV ASD 3598 (1978)

Ida Haendel (violin)/Sir John Pritchard/BBC Symphony Orchestra (rec. 1986)
( + Polonia)
CARLTON BBC RADIO CLASSICS 15656 9194-2 (1997)

Hilary Hahn (violin)/ Sir Colin Davis/ London Symphony Orchestra
( + Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending)
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 474 504-2 (2004)

Marie Hall (violin)/ Sir Edward Elgar/anonymous orchestra (abridged) (rec. 1916)
( + Symphony No 2, Cello Concerto, Enigma Variations, Bavarian Dances, Cockaigne Overture, Carissima, Chanson de Nuit, In the South Overture, Polonia, Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos.1 and 4, Salut d'Amour, The Wand of Youth Suites Nos. 1 and 2, Carillon, The Dream of Gerontius, Fringes of the Fleet. Scenes from The Saga of King Olaf, A Little Bird in the Air The Light of Life-Meditation, Sea Pictures, The Sanguine Fan, The Starlight Express {excerpts}, Handel/Elgar: Overture in D minor, Bach/Elgar: Fantasia and Fugue)
PEARL Pavilion GEMM CDS9951/5 (5 CDs) (1992)
(original LP release: PEARL GEM 112) (1970)

Jascha Heifetz (violin)/Sir Malcolm Sargent/London Symphony Orchestra (rec. 1941)

( + Walton: Violin Concerto)
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8.110939 (2000)
(original LP release: HMV ALP1014) (1952)

Dong-Suk Kang (violin)/Adrian Leaper/Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
( + Cockaigne Overture)
NAXOS 8.550489 (1992)

Nigel Kennedy (violin)/Vernon Handley/London Philharmonic Orchestra

( + Introduction and Allegro)
EMI GREAT RECORDINGS OF THE CENTURY 345792-2 (2006)
(original LP release: EMI EMX412058-1) (1984)

Nigel Kennedy (violin)/Sir Simon Rattle/City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
( + Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending)
EMI 5034172 (2007)
(original CD release: EMI CDC 556413-2) (1997)

Yehudi Menuhin (violin)/Sir Edward Elgar/London Symphony Orchestra (rec 1932)
( + Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1)
NAXOS HISTORICAL 8110902 (1999)
(original LP release: HMV ALP1456) (1957)

Sir Yehudi Menuhin (violin)/Sir Adrian Boult/LondonPhilharmonic Orchestra (rec. 1965)
( + Introduction and Allegro and Grania and Diarmid: Funeral March)
BBC LEGENDS BBCL41702 (2006)

Sir Yehudi Menuhin (violin)/Sir Adrian Boult/New Philharmonia Orchestra
( + Delius: Violin Concerto)
EMI CLASSICS CDM 64725-2 (1994)
(original LP release: HMV ASD2559) (1966)

Sir Yehudi Menuhin (violin)/Sir Adrian Boult/LondonPhilharmonic Orchestra (rec. 1969)
AS