Two 1950s’ masterpieces from Michael Tippett captured at Royal Festival Hall concerts (very quiet audiences, no applause). Symphony 2 pounds into our consciousness, owing to Vivaldi, wonderfully vital and vibrant here, played with the virtuosity demanded, recorded with clarity and impact. Many engaging ideas, expressive beauties and enchanted sounds to behold, all done full justice to by the LPO and Edward Gardner across the four movements, in music that’s highly personal (with the third reminding of Stravinsky’s neoclassicism) yet which speaks directly to the listener in the most meaningful way; the violins’ rhythmic complexities in the first movement become ecstatic in the Finale. I wouldn’t want to be without recordings by Colin Davis and Martyn Brabbins, and now this from the LPO is equally revealing and indispensable. Steven Osborne has recorded the Piano Concerto before, for Hyperion, and also the four Sonatas. This lyrical and rapturous work, inspired by Beethoven’s poetic Fourth Concerto, and its equal, is a regular in Osborne’s repertoire and his experience of it shines through – dedicatedly accompanied, real teamwork – beguiling in song, syncopation and scoring, Osborne, Gardner and the LPO its collaborative masters. New to Tippett’s music? Start here. Admire it already? Don’t miss LPO-0129.

Tippett: Piano Concerto & Symphony No. 2

Ed Gardner conducts Tippett 2 @ RAM…

October 15, 2021, Duke’s Hall, Royal Academy of Music.

Also on the LPO label:

London Philharmonic Orchestra: Edward Gardner conducts Michael Tippett’s The Midsummer Marriage [live relay on BBC Radio 3]