KIEL Piano Concerto in B major, Op 30

FUCHS Concerto for piano and orchestra in B minor, Op 27

Music in Germany in the later 19th century found itself divided into two camps; the modernists, led by Liszt and Wagner, and the traditionalists who took Brahms as their model and who upheld the values of the classical period and Beethoven in particular. Fuchs and Kiel are very much in the later camp and both spent their lives in academic posts, as so often befits such establishment figures. They each wrote only one piano concerto and, as one might expect, these are not vehicles for empty virtuoso display but rather 'symphonic' concertos, both written in the traditional three movements, the first of which is a weighty sonata form allegro. The influence of Beethoven can be heard in each and the later Fuchs piece also shows a debt to Brahms. Interestingly Kiel taught Stanford while he studied in Germany and indeed these composers are very much the German equivalent of Stanford or Parry. Martin Roscoe, who did such a fine job with the similar Brull concertos (CDA67069), is our soloist and Martyn Brabbins and the BBCSSO give their usual inspired accompaniment. Both works are premiere recordings.

'impressive additions to Hyperion’s superbly presented Romantic Piano Concerto series … they could hardly be performed in a more masterly and eloquent style … all lovers of a fascinating series will have to add this to their collection' (Gramophone)

'irresistible' (The Independent)

'Martin Roscoe’s performances with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Martyn Brabbins make strong advocacy for these two 19th century charmers' (The Times)

'Both works are immediately attractive and good-hearted, stuffed full of engaging musical ideas satisfyingly exploited in craftsmanship of a high order … I enjoyed – am still enjoying – this disc enormously' (International Record Review)

'Needless to say, the performances and recording are immaculate' (Classic FM Magazine)

'You can’t fault the magic wand of Martyn Brabbins, the sincere advocacy of the superlative Martin Roscoe nor the spirited and sensitive playing of the BBC Scottish band' (BBC Music Magazine)

'Roscoe, The BBC SSO and Brabbins play these attractive works with devotion and panache' (Sunday Times)

'This release has everything a Romantic piano concerto could wish for … the interplay between Roscoe and Brabbins lifts the music way above the dusted life it had for years' (Pianist)

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Recording details: December 2001; City Halls, Candleriggs, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Produced by Andrew Keener; Engineered by Simon Eadon; Release date: February 2003;