Constant Lambert: Romeo & Julia (Ballettmusik) (CD)

Constant Lambert (1905-1951)

Jonathan Plowright, English Northern Philharmonia

CD

CD (Compact Disc)

Conventional CD, playable with all CD players and computer drives, but also with most SACD or multiplayers.

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+Elegiac Blues; Klavierkonzert; The Bird Actors-Ouvertüre; Prize Fight (Ballett)

Artists:: Jonathan Plowright, English Northern Philharmonia, Lloyd-Jones
Label:: Hyperion
Year of recording ca.:: 2004
UPC/EAN:: 0034571175454
Release date:: 20.9.2005

Product-Information:

Constant Lambert – pioneering ballet composer, maverick author and lover of cats – was composing in those heady days between the two wars when English artistic optimism was at a peak. The first English composer to have a work taken up by Diaghilev, his Romeo and Juliet was premiered by the Russian master in Monte Carlo. The story presents elements from the familiar Shakespearean story within the context of rehearsals for a ballet of the same, this convolution itself being typical of Lambert’s desire to avoid the obvious. The Piano Concerto recorded here dates from 1924 (the 1931 concerto is recorded on Hyperion CDA66754) but had to wait until 1988 before being given its first performance. Then, as now, the soloist was Jonathan Plowright. Three shorter works complete the programme: Prize Fight responds to the ludicrous musical confections by French contemporaries Satie, Poulenc and Milhaud (Lambert has the boxing ring collapse following a ‘pitch invasion’); The Bird Actors is a resurrected section from the original score for Romeo and Juliet; and Elegiac Blues is a jazz-inflected homage to Lambert’s idol Florence Mills who had so scandalized London ‘polite society’ with her touring shows in the 1920s.

Rezensionen

'Strongly recommended - hats off to Hyperion once again' (HMV Choice)

'sparkling disc of five orchestral works … Plowright and Lloyd-Jones are masterly advocates for this brilliant, entertaining music' (The Sunday Times)

'a fascinating programme' (The Times)

'Jonathan Plowright cuts a dash with his scintillating technique, opalescent tone and beguiling range of colour … A winner of a disc, this' (Gramophone Magazine)

Reviews

FonoForum 02/06: "Musik eines geistvollen Neoklassizisten aus dem Umkreis von 'Les Six' - irgendwo zwischen Strawinsky, Poulenc und Satie, leicht angejazzt, temperamentsprühend, ein augenzwinkernder Melodiker und pikanter Rhythmiker."