Hyperion presents a rarity in their ongoing Anglo-Australian artistic collaboration: music by an Australian composer who was once at the heart of the English establishment. Malcolm Williamson was one of many Australian creative artists who relocated to Britain in the mid-twentieth century. Within a decade of settling in London he had established a reputation as one of the most gifted and prolific composers of his generation. However today, he is almost forgotten and his music virtually never performed. This set of his complete Piano Concertos is therefore an important document as well as a compendium of deeply appealing music. Piers Lane, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Howard Shelley are the ideal performers of these unjustly neglected works.
1 Piano Concerto No 1 in a Major Poco Lento Allegro Poco Lento [6'53]
2 Piano Concerto No 1 in a Major Andantino [6'06]
3 Piano Concerto No 1 in a Major Poco Presto [5'10]
4 Concerto for Two Pianos and String Orchestra in A minor with Howard Shelley Piano Allegro Ma Non Troppo [7'07]
5 Concerto for Two Pianos and String Orchestra in A minor with Howard Shelley Piano Lento [7'46]
6 Concerto for Two Pianos and String Orchestra in A minor with Howard Shelley Piano Allegro Vivo [4'57]
7 Piano Concerto No 2 in F Sharp minor Allegro Con Brio [4'23]
8 Piano Concerto No 2 in F Sharp minor Andante Lento [7'09]
9 Piano Concerto No 2 in F Sharp minor Allegro Con Spirito [4'15]
- Disc 2 -
1 Piano Concerto No 3 in E Flat Major Toccata Allegro [7'02]
2 Piano Concerto No 3 in E Flat Major Allegro (Allegretto) [5'40]
3 Piano Concerto No 3 in E Flat Major Molto Largo E Cantando [12'32]
4 Piano Concerto No 3 in E Flat Major Ben Allegro [4'51]
5 Sinfonia Concertante in F Sharp Major Crotchet = 76 [5'29]
6 Sinfonia Concertante in F Sharp Major Andante Lento [5'33]
7 Sinfonia Concertante in F Sharp Major Presto [6'45]
8 Piano Concerto No 4 in D Major Allegro [5'39]
9 Piano Concerto No 4 in D Major Andante Piacevole [5'44]
10 Piano Concerto No 4 in D Major Allegro Vivo Con Fuoco [3'29]
Hyperion presents a rarity in their ongoing Anglo-Australian artistic collaboration: music by an Australian composer who was once at the heart of the English establishment. Malcolm Williamson was one of many Australian creative artists who relocated to Britain in the mid-twentieth century. Within a decade of settling in London he had established a reputation as one of the most gifted and prolific composers of his generation. However today, he is almost forgotten and his music virtually never performed. This set of his complete Piano Concertos is therefore an important document as well as a compendium of deeply appealing music. Piers Lane, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Howard Shelley are the ideal performers of these unjustly neglected works.
