Alwyn: Chamber Music
Sarah-Jane Bradley (viola), Lucy Gould (violin), Robert Plane (clarinet) Sophia Rahman (piano), Sarah Francis (oboe) & Lucy Wakeford (harp)
Hermitage String Trio
Performances and recording both excel, with Sarah-Jane Bradley's viola-playing outstanding and Sophia Rahman's accompaniments a model of supportive expertise throughout.
Alwyn: Chamber Music
Sarah-Jane Bradley (viola), Lucy Gould (violin), Robert Plane (clarinet) Sophia Rahman (piano), Sarah Francis (oboe) & Lucy Wakeford (harp)
Hermitage String Trio
Purchase product
Performances and recording both excel, with Sarah-Jane Bradley's viola-playing outstanding and Sophia Rahman's accompaniments a model of supportive expertise throughout.
About
Among British composer William Alwyn’s large body of work, including five symphonies, concertos for flute, oboe, violin, harp, piano, and many shorter orchestral works, there is a significant amount of chamber and instrumental music.
This disc presents six works which were composed between 1934 and 1962.
During this time, Alwyn’s style developed from the easy flowing melodies exemplified in the Oboe Sonata, Viola Sonatina (here receiving its world première recording), and Suite for Oboe and Harp to the more astringent and darker language of the Clarinet Sonata and String Trio.
Conversations, originally named Music for Three Players, comprises eight short descriptive pieces.
“Naxos continues to champion Alwyn for a burgeoning band of devotees” Gramophone
Contents and tracklist
- Robert Plane, Sophia Rahman
- Sarah Francis, Sophia Rahman
- Sarah-Jane Bradley, Sophia Rahman
- Hermitage String Trio
- Robert Plane, Lucy Gould, Sophia Rahman
Awards and reviews
November 2010
Performances and recording both excel, with Sarah-Jane Bradley's viola-playing outstanding and Sophia Rahman's accompaniments a model of supportive expertise throughout.
November 2010
The Conversations of the 1950s (a suite of eight short pieces) for clarinet, violin and piano is a particular favourite, especially as Robert Plane, Lucy Gould and Sophia Rahman play with such rapt sensitivity and allure. Sarah Francis is beguiling as ever in the enchanting Oboe and Harp Suite
7th August 2010
Alwyn’s chamber music bristles with piquant ideas. Every phrase has a spark, challenging its interpreters musically and technically while giving the listener a feast of gently angular lyricism...it’s the mercurial String Trio, in a performance of extraordinary vivacity and conviction from the Hermitage String Trio, that impresses most.
Awards Issue 2010
This collection of six works for various combinations reveals William Alwyn at his most impressive, always thoughtful in finely crafted works...Altogether a fine survey, splendidly played and recorded.
1st August 2010
...an interesting glimpse into William Alwyn's development from the sweet melodist of the 1930s to the bleaker, angrier man of the 1960s.
