Clare Hammond: Tippett, Britten & Walton – SUPER-AUDIO CD

Title: Tippett, Britten & Walton
Artist: Clare Hammond
Label: Bis
Product Type: SUPER-AUDIO CD
UPC: 7318599926049
Genre: Classical Artists
Release Date: 2025-10-10
Number of Discs: 1

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.

Tracks:
1.1 Sinfonia Concertante for Orchestra with Piano Obbligato~I. Maestoso
1.2 Sinfonia Concertante for Orchestra with Piano Obbligato~II. Andante comodo
1.3 Sinfonia Concertante for Orchestra with Piano Obbligato~III. Allegro vivo, sempre scherzando
1.4 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Theme
1.5 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation I. Recitative
1.6 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation II. Romance
1.7 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation III. March
1.8 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation IV. Arabesque
1.9 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation V. Chant
1.10 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation VI. Nocturne
1.11 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation VII. Badinerie
1.12 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation VIII. Burlesque
1.13 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation IXa. Toccata I
1.14 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation IXb. Toccata II
1.15 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Variation X. Adagio
1.16 Diversions, Op. 21 for piano (left hand) and orchestra~Finale (Variation XI). Tarantella
1.17 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra~I. Allegro non troppo
1.18 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra~Il. Molto lento e tranquillo
1.19 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra~III. Vivace