Vaughan Williams, R.: Piano Concerto Ashley Wass

• Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958): The Wasps (Aristophanic Suite):
• 1 I. Overture 10:02
• 2 II. Entr'acte 02:43
• 3 III. March Past of the Kitchen Utensils 02:57
• 4 IV. Entr'acte 03:43
• 5 V. Ballet and Final Tableau 06:41
• Piano Concerto in C:
• 6 I. Toccata: Allegro moderato - 06:48
• 7 II. Romanza: Lento 09:15
• 8 III. Fuga chromatica con finale alla tedesca: Allegro - Lento - Largo sostenuto - Andante sostenuto - 04:57
• 9 IV. Finale 06:40
• English Folk Song Suite (orch. Gordon Jacob):
• 10 I. March, Seventeen come Sunday 02:57
• 11 III. Intermezzo, My Bonny Boy 03:15
• 12 IV. March, Folk Songs from Somerset 03:05
• 13 The Running Set 06:36
• Total Runtime 01:09:39

Info for Vaughan Williams, R.: Piano Concerto

The popular overture from Vaughan Williams’s incidental music for Aristophanes’s The Wasps introduces a suite whose mischievously witty, noble and farcical movements underline the play’s satire of the Athenian legal system.

A similar vivacity characterises his English Folksong Suite and The Running Set, where Vaughan Williams relishes setting tunes such as Barrack Hill, Irish Reel, The Blackthorn Stick and Cock o’ the North.

Folksong-like melodies also feature in his magnificent Piano Concerto, in which the magisterial influence of Bach and Busoni may also be heard.

“The Piano Concerto of Vaughan Williams has been seriously undervalued… a performance as fine as this one from Ashley Wass will simply have one marvelling at the originality of the piece and its distinctive slant on the idea of a piano concerto.” (Gramophone)

“Ashley Wass's commanding way with the solo part is beautifully poised in the Romanza, while admirably resisting any temptation to smooth over the Toccata's hard edges. Both in the Concerto and in the more familiar territory elsewhere, James Judd secures orchestral accompaniments of brilliant colour and focus.” (BBC Music Magazine)

“Wass delivers the solo part with impressive command. Outstanding recorded sound.” (Classic FM)

Ashley Wass, piano
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
James Judd, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Vaughan Williams, R.: Piano Concerto