Alan Rawsthorne: Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra n.1 (1939)

[@MrInterestingthings]

The 2nd movement is the winner here . Rawsthorne is great stuff. Donahoe has always been one of favorites ! First discovered him at Tchaikovsky competition !

[@baronmeduse]

A very fine work.

[@gordonthompsell887]

Rapturous music so seldom heard on R3. Lamentable that other composers such as Frank Bridge, Walton and Williams are also neglected.

[@MrBeethovenfan]

I'm astonished by the unusual orchestral timbres, the playfully mischievous themes, and the fact that in nearly four decades of listening to classical music, I've never heard the name of this composer until a couple of weeks ago. Where was he hiding? And why?

[@geoffwalker9392]

I met Rawsthorne a few times when I was at school (he and our music master were friends) and my impression of him then was that he was a rather shy and diffident man and perhaps not the type to push his own works. He had a successful career as a film composer and was fairly well recognised during much of his life but has rather fallen into neglect since then.

[@ianthompson9201]

Not so much that he was hiding; more that the British musical establishment have been hiding him. They're afraid to show approval for something they don't fully understand, for fear of the disdain of other, equally ignorant people. A shameful situation. Long live Rawsthorne's refusal to toe the line of harmonic orthodoxy!

[@MrInterestingthings]

I heard and saw his name decades ago but never heard his music on radio or concert hall . KZbin is creating better ears into tomorro's future composers yet radio is still stupid even classical radio where it exists not very good . Sounds like Prokofiev without genius-this music is too smooth he uses unusual harmonies and dissonance well but his English soul really doesn't seem to want it. I think it's a put on to entertain and be new . Maybe I need to spend more time with Rawsthorne ...

[@keybawd4023]

I heard Moura Lympany play this wonderful concerto at the proms with Sargent conducting. Why these days always Prok 2, Rach 3,? Why aren't our pianists performing Rawsthorne's concertos, Ireland's concerto and Tippett's divine concerto? These are sublime works.

[@richardlitwin4046]

Yes the Tippett is divine indeed.

[@andrewbarrow3466]

Because, sadly, the old warhorses can be guaranteed to put bums on seats. I was lucky enough to hear a performance of the Busoni Piano Concerto 15 years ago at Symphony Hall in Birmingham. Wonderful, but so rarely performed. It's just the same with symphonies. Yes, yes, we *do* need another performance of the Beethoven Fifth.

[@andrewbarrow3466]

The Tippett is a fine concerto, as are the Piano Concerto and Diversions by Britten.

[@kapariz44]

Both of Rawsthorne's piano concerti are fine works and Peter Donohoe is an excellent exponent. The Tarantella reminds me here and there of the 4th. mvt. of Busoni's concerto, but this is a more focussed, concentrated work.

[@1lekhine]

Yes endeed.

[@JustinTanner1964]

Reminds me a little of Britten's piano concerto. I love this.

[@paosandovalmartdr]

Uffff Excellent, I´ve never heard the name of this composer until today!, love this concert.

[@jasonfilmscore]

My favorite concerto and favorite recording , thank you!

[@michaelawford7325]

More known for his film music for The Cruel Sea and The Man Who Never Was.

[@geoffwalker9392]

A hint of the composer's political sympathies qt 16.45.

[@warrenstutely7151]

Rawsthornes songs are also wonderful. Thanks radio 3 for denying so very many great British composers. Why have the reactionary idiots ruined what used to a beacon for modern composers and early music and stimulating talks on music history. They denied so many possibilities for young people. !!!

[@Rickriquinho]

You have been brainwashed by modernist ideology, so you can't see how modernism is ridiculous.

[@Rickriquinho]

Artistic value: zero