Delius - Piano Concerto [Lane/Lloyd Jones-Ulster Orchestra]
The Delius Piano Concerto is truly underrated on disc, which is a real shame, as this Concerto is one of the best things he wrote, and it's hard to fathom why it isn't better known, it's a real find if you love Piano Concerto's.
Hyperion's 'The Romantic Piano Concerto' series is a great idea, and even though the series is a mixed bag, certain individual recordings are gems, i would not wish to collect the whole lot, just dip into single discs that are appealing.
This concerto had a long gestation period, this is the original version recorded here, although i have a recording of the revised version, also played by Piers Lane, but with Vernon Handley conducting, i feel that the revised version is superior, but i really need to listen to both more before i can pinpoint why, the revised version is roughly six minutes shorter.
The first movement really got to me this time, there are two themes running through it, the first one heard at the outset, nice and pastoral, heard on the strings [0:00-0:19], but soon turns more exuberant, and then the second tune, more lovelier, first heard on the horns [1:40-2:03], but followed by an exquisite dreamy piano solo [2:03-2:39], the feel and mood of this Concerto is most like Schumann's Piano Concerto, the two themes intertwine back and forth, maybe in places it might sound somewhat disjointed and pasted together, and maybe that's where the revised version comes in, near the end of the Concerto, there's a lovely episode, where the second gentle tune appears on the flutes/woodwind [8:44-9:09], in anticipation for the piano serenading away [9:09-10:01], with flute/recorder? in the background, which turns to solo violin, Delius surely knows how to spin a wonderful tune.
Well i have not lived long with this Concerto, i'm still in the process of discovering it, but so far what i hear is a forgotten masterpiece.
Here's the first movement played on YouTube.
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