Alexander Mackenzie; Donald Tovey - Piano Concerto (Steven Osborne)

Information

Composer: Donald Tovey; Alexander Mackenzie

1. Tovey - Piano Concerto in A major, Op. 15: I. Energico
2. Tovey - Piano Concerto in A major, Op. 15: II. Adagio ma non troppo
3. Tovey - Piano Concerto in A major, Op. 15: III. Alla marcia, non presto - Presto
4. Mackenzie - Scottish Concerto, Op. 55: I. Allegro maestoso - Allegretto - Andantino
5. Mackenzie - Scottish Concerto, Op. 55: II. Molto lento
6. Mackenzie - Scottish Concerto, Op. 55: III. Allegro vivace (ma non presto al principio)

Steven Osborne, piano
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins, conductor

Date: 1998
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67023

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Review

From the horns’ call-to-arms at the outset to the irrepressible merrymaking of the closing pages, Edinburgh-born Sir Alexander Mackenzie’s Scottish Concerto (1897) spells firm enjoyment, and I find it astonishing that it is only now receiving its first recording. Cast in three movements, each of which employs a traditional Scottish melody, it is a thoroughly endearing, beautifully crafted work which wears its native colours without any hint of stale cliche or cloying sentimentality; indeed, the canny wit, genuine freshness and fertile imagination with which Mackenzie treats his material are evident throughout, nowhere more so, perhaps, than in the lovely central Molto lento, a raptly tender meditation on the shepherd’s love-song, The Waulking of the Fauld. This is preceded by an initially majestic Allegro maestoso (based on The Reel of Tulloch) which soon bursts into mischievous life. The latter tune is also worked into the delectably scored finale (which borrows Green Grow the Rushes O for its main idea).

By contrast, Edinburgh-based Sir Donald Tovey’s Piano Concerto in A major (1903) exhibits a rather more formal demeanour, its three movements brimful of youthful ambition and possessing a very Brahmsian solidity and dignity. Certainly, there’s plenty to admire in the imposing, lucidly structured first movement, which boasts a development section of impressive emotional scope and satisfying rigour. To get some idea of Tovey’s considerable compositional prowess, listen from the muscular orchestral paragraph beginning at 6'43'' through to the powerfully achieved recapitulation (from 9'50''). The ensuing F sharp minor Adagio ma non troppo features some radiantly luminous dialogue between piano and orchestra, and the concerto concludes with a vigorous, high-spirited Alla marcia finale. As the fugato episode early on in this last movement demonstrates, Tovey’s idiomatically assured writing is not always entirely untouched by a certain academic earnestness, but on the whole any unwanted stuffiness is deftly kept at bay. In fact, repeated hearings have merely strengthened my admiration for this work, and I am now intrigued to hear some of Tovey’s other works (there exists a Symphony from 1913 as well as the Cello Concerto, written for Casals and premiered by him in 1934).

No praise can be too high for Steven Osborne’s by turns outstandingly sensitive and dashing contribution, while the excellent Martyn Brabbins draws a splendidly stylish and alert response from his fine BBC group. Sound and balance are excellent too. As ever, John Purser’s extensive annotations are a veritable storehouse of background information, infectious enthusiasm and perceptive observation. All told, a super disc.

-- Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone

More reviews:

BBC Music Magazine  PERFORMANCE: **** / SOUND: ****

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Aug02/Toveypc.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Mackenzie-Scottish-Concerto-Tovey-Romantic/dp/B00000C2BH

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Donald Tovey (17 July 1875 – 10 July 1940) was a British musical analyst, musicologist, writer on music, composer, conductor and pianist. He had been best known for his Essays in Musical Analysis and his editions of works by Bach and Beethoven, but since the 1990s his compositions (relatively small in number but substantial in musical content) have been recorded and performed with increasing frequency. . The recordings have mostly been well received by reviewers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Tovey

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Alexander Mackenzie (22 August 1847 – 28 April 1935) was a Scottish composer, conductor and teacher best known for his oratorios, violin and piano pieces, Scottish folk music and works for the stage. He had many successes as a composer, producing over 90 compositions, but from 1888 to 1924, he devoted a great part of his energies to running the Royal Academy of Music. Together with Hubert Parry and Charles Villiers Stanford, he was regarded as one of the fathers of the Britishmusical renaissance in the late nineteenth century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Mackenzie_(composer)

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Steven Osborne (born 1971) is a Scottish pianist. He was taught by Richard Beauchamp at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh before going to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to study under Renna Kellaway. His recording career began when he was signed to Hyperion Records in 1998 and has resulted in bi-annual recordings. Steven Osborne has returned almost annually to the BBC Proms. At the Edinburgh Festival he has appeared both as a soloist and chamber musician.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Osborne_(pianist)
http://www.stevenosborne.co.uk/

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