Utwory na płycie:

• Vaughan Williams: Suite For Viola & Small Orchestra - Group 1 #1 Prelude
• Vaughan Williams: Suite For Viola & Small Orchestra - Group 1 #2 Carol
• Vaughan Williams: Suite For Viola & Small Orchestra - Group 1 #3 Christmas Dance
• Vaughan Williams: Suite For Viola & Small Orchestra - Group 2 #1 Ballad
• Vaughan Williams: Suite For Viola & Small Orchestra - Group 2 #2 Moto Perpetuo
• Vaughan Williams: Suite For Viola & Small Orchestra - Group 3 #1 Musette
• Vaughan Williams: Suite For Viola & Small Orchestra - Group 3 #2 Polka Mélancolique
• Vaughan Williams: Suite For Viola & Small Orchestra - Group 3 #3 Galop
• McEwen: Viola Concerto - 1. Allegro Moderato
• McEwen: Viola Concerto - 2. Allegretto Grazioso
• McEwen: Viola Concerto - 3. Allegro Con Brio
• Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi - 1. Lento
• Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi - 2. Andante Con Moto
• Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi - 3. Allegro Con Brio
• Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi - 4. Moderato Alla Marcia
• Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi - 5. Andante Quasi Lento
• Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi - 6. Moderato Tranquillo

RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Suite for viola and small orchestra

1 Prelude [3'05]
2 Carol [2'28]
3 Christmas Dance [1'53]
4 Ballad [5'58]
5 Moto perpetuo [3'29]
6 Musette [3'33]
7 Polka mélancolique [2'53]
8 Galop [2'10]

SIR JOHN MCEWEN Viola Concerto

9 Allegro moderato [14'39]
10 Allegretto grazioso [8'48]
11 Allegro con brio [7'45]

RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Flos Campi

12 Lento [2'44]
13 Andante con moto [3'12]
14 Allegro con brio [2'56]
15 Moderato alla marcia [1'55]
16 Andante quasi lento [3'09]
17 Moderato tranquillo [5'47]

Lawrence Power has established himself as the most sought-after violist of his generation and his sumptuous tone and persuasive interpretations have lead to many comparisons with the pioneering British violist Lionel Tertis. Indeed, the three works on this disc were written for Tertis, who did so much to broaden the instrument’s musical repertoire and raise its status to an accepted solo instrument.

The two Vaughan Williams works display an unabashed romanticism and pastoral elegance. Flos Campi, meaning ‘Flower of the field’, was completed in 1925 and puzzled audiences with its ambiguous form and unusual orchestration. Despite the prominent solo viola and wordless chorus, it is neither a concerto nor a choral work. The seamless viola line moves in unity with the orchestra and the chorus appears as a body of instruments, creating an effect of mesmerizing beauty and calm. The little-performed Suite for viola and small orchestra was written ten years later and contains some of the composer’s most lyrical inventions.

The lush orchestration and memorable themes in Sir John McEwen’s 1901 concerto expose this large-scale work as a neglected gem of the viola repertoire and Power’s performance is sure to set a new benchmark. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, under the expert and unfailingly sensitive guidance of Martyn Brabbins, provides expert backing throughout.