Britten: Complete works for Piano and Orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Ilan Volkov
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) | Duration 71'16
Hyperion Records CDA67625
GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER - BEST CONCERTO RECORDING
SUNDAY TIMES CLASSICAL CD OF THE WEEK
DAILY TELEGRAPH CLASSICAL CD OF THE WEEK
MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL CD OF THE MONTH
PREIS DER DEUTSCHEN SCHALLPLATTENKRITIK
THE TIMES BEST RECORDS OF 2008
MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL RECORDINGS OF THE YEAR
The incomparable Steven Osborne, with the BBC SSO and Ilan Volkov in electrifying form … The music has a bubbling effervescence … and is delivered by Osborne with his characteristic sense of discipline (pristine playing) and buccaneering spirit.
— Glasgow Herald
It's the concerto, though, that is the real draw here, for Osborne's account has such deftness and wit that its only possible rival on disc is the performance by Sviatoslav Richter with Britten conducting
— The Guardian ****
Steven Osborne plays the schismatic, bravura solo part with dashing abandon. He's admirably partnered by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under Ilan Volkov's baton.
— San Francisco Chronicle
Osborne exults in Britten’s dazzlingly pianistic writing.... A thrilling disc.
— The Times *****
Diversions ... presents Britten's inventiveness at its most elegant while also finding serious depth in its penultimate Adagio. Osborne and the orchestra do this neglected jewel excellent justice.
— BBC Music Magazine
Osborne and his colleagues make the best possible case for pieces which tend to have been placed on the outer fringes of the Britten canon.
— Gramophone
The rapport between soloist and orchestra is often electrifying, especially in their fervent performance of Young Apollo.
— The Telegraph
It is hard to imagine more persuasive advocates for the music. Osborne is dazzling in the showier passages (of which there are many) in all three works, and all challenges are met head-on in exemplary performances.
— The Scotsman****
Osborne's account of Britten's 1938 Piano Concerto Op 13 is full of fire and wit.
— The Times ****
All three pieces get crackerjack performances from pianist Steven Osborne, conductor Ilan Volkov and the Scottish orchestra, and the recorded sound is top-notch.
— Dallas Morning News
Each work has different charms and challenges and Osborne responds to them all. These are great works, which show optimism, ability and sheer technical brilliance.
— Musicweb International
Tracklisting
Piano Concerto in D major op.13
Toccata
Waltz
Impromptu
March
Original version of the third movement of the Piano Concerto: Recitative and Aria
Young Apollo for piano, string quartet and string orchestra, op.16
Diversions for piano (left hand) and orchestra op.21
Theme
Variation I: Recitative
Variation II: Romance
Variation III: March
Variation IV: Arabesque
Variation V: Chant
Variation VI: Nocturne
Variation VII: Badinerie
Variation VIII: Burlesque
Variation IXa: Toccata I
Variation IXb: Toccata II - Cadenza
Variation X: Adagio
Finale: Tarantella