A recording of [the] premiere shows how well Rostropovich's essentially muscular style suited the piece, and the jagged opening dotted rhy thms are caught as energetically by Johnston. He may yield a little to the great Russian in tonal variety, but he imbues the various characters of the first movement with personality, and affection in the more lyrical second section.

Guy Johnston cuts a dashingly articulate figure, and he generates a nourishing rapport with Andrew Manze and a meticulously prepared RLPO.

Taken from a live concert with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the performance crackles right from the start, with plenty of rhythmic gusto from soloist and composer alike...This album (digital only) may only last 25 minutes but every one of them is worthwhile.