Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
The works on this album come from the later part of William Walton's career, in the 1950s and 1960s. At the time, with modernist absolutism in full swing, they were negatively reviewed, but now, with a neo-Romantic language mixed with hints of jazz, at least in the Symphony No. 2, they sound pretty prescient and worthy of revival. They get strong performances here. Rarest of all are the Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten, composed in 1969, and an intriguing example of a tribute by an older composer to a younger one. The work is a short passacaglia-like treatment of the substitute Impromptu movement theme of Britten's Piano Concerto, putting it through changes that transform it from Britten into Walton. The Cello Concerto, the only one of the three works that fits the stereotype of Walton's later work as relaxed and autumnal, receives a warm and engaging performance from Emerson Quartet cellist Paul Watkins. The jazz elements in the Symphony No. 2 are actually deemphasized by conductor Edward Gardner, leading the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but his rather dry blocks of sound also work well and bring out the many small touches of orchestration in this work. An attractive release that's well worth the time of Walton fans and those of British music in general.
© TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten, C82 (William Walton)
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
Cello Concerto, C65 (William Walton)
Paul Watkins, Performer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
Paul Watkins, Performer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
Paul Watkins, Performer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
Paul Watkins, Performer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
Paul Watkins, Performer - BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
Symphony No. 2, C68 (William Walton)
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Edward Gardner, Conductor - William Walton, Composer
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
Album review
The works on this album come from the later part of William Walton's career, in the 1950s and 1960s. At the time, with modernist absolutism in full swing, they were negatively reviewed, but now, with a neo-Romantic language mixed with hints of jazz, at least in the Symphony No. 2, they sound pretty prescient and worthy of revival. They get strong performances here. Rarest of all are the Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten, composed in 1969, and an intriguing example of a tribute by an older composer to a younger one. The work is a short passacaglia-like treatment of the substitute Impromptu movement theme of Britten's Piano Concerto, putting it through changes that transform it from Britten into Walton. The Cello Concerto, the only one of the three works that fits the stereotype of Walton's later work as relaxed and autumnal, receives a warm and engaging performance from Emerson Quartet cellist Paul Watkins. The jazz elements in the Symphony No. 2 are actually deemphasized by conductor Edward Gardner, leading the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but his rather dry blocks of sound also work well and bring out the many small touches of orchestration in this work. An attractive release that's well worth the time of Walton fans and those of British music in general.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:09:42
- Main artists: BBC Symphony Orchestra Paul Watkins Edward Gardner
- Composer: William Walton
- Label: Chandos
- Genre: Classical
(C) 2015 Chandos (P) 2015 Chandos
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.