York Bowen: Klavierkonzerte Nr.3 & 4 on CD

Der »englische Rachmaninoff«

Die neueste Folge der »Romantischen Klavierkonzerte« macht in England Station und präsentiert zwei Klavierkonzerte von York Bowen, der auf der Insel respektvoll auch der »englische Rachmaninoff« genannt wird. Rachmaninoff ist unbestritten der weitaus bekanntere der beiden, gleichwohl haben beide – Rachmaninoff wie Bowen – auf ihre eigene Weise die große romantische Klaviertradition bis weit ins 20. Jahrhundert hinein fortgeführt. All das, was Bowens musikalische Individualität ausmacht – die Noblesse des Klanges, die Vielfalt der Farben, die Eleganz der Form, die Intensität des Ausdrucks –, lässt sich an der vorliegenden Einspielung wunderbar nachvollziehen.

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Hyperion’s virtually single-handed rehabilitation of the music of York Bowen (known in his time as ‘The English Rachmaninov’), continues apace with this recording of the third and fourth piano concertos. Piano Concerto No 3 is a vigorous one-movement work with three well-defined sections of varying tempos in Fantasia style. Bowen’s sparkling performances of it drew plaudits from contemporary critics, who hailed it as his best composition thus far.

The Piano Concerto No 4 (said by Sorabji to be the greatest work for piano and orchestra ever written by an Englishman) is a large-scale Romantic, virtuoso work, impressionistic solo passages alternating freely with Straussian orchestral textures throughout. It was written for a BBC broadcast, and for the composer himself to perform; Bowen considered the work his best composition for the piano and an important addition to the concerto literature. It has not been given a studio recording until now.

The young British pianist Danny Driver, a Bowen specialist, gives a virtuoso performance with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under Martyn Brabbins.

Rezensionen

'Absolutely stunning… What a way to be introduced to the music of York Bowen!' (American Record Guide, USA)

'[Danny Driver's] got the style for Bowen's music, a mix of introspective lyricism and energetic, theatrical extroversion with plenty of color… the BBC Scottish SO plays with its usual unruffled beauty' (Fanfare, USA)

'Danny Driver's pianism is fully and eagerly up to Bowen's considerable demands' (BBC Music Magazine)

'Soloist Danny Driver emerges as the virtuoso hero of the hour' (Classic FM Magazine)