London Light Music, Peter Burt
“This is a well-filled well played album…”
Two very distinguished musicians are involved. Robert Plane has had over a thirty-year musical career and was principal clarinet of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for over 20 years, at other times holding the same position with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Royal Northern Sinfonia. He has played the world premieres of concertos by four composers. A BBC Radio 3 review referred to him “… exuding poise and elegance …” He is now Head of Woodwind at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Plane’s duo-musician, Yorkshire-born (1957) pianist Benjamin Frith… He has recorded over 80 albums including 17 for solo piano. Gramophone magazine once opined “… he possesses a formidable talent both musically and technically”.
I am pleased to see the name of Ernest Tomlinson – for Canzonetta – among the 11 composers on 20 tracks… The opening number is Michael Balph’s Fantasia on The Bohemian Girl with its reminder of I dreamt I dwelt in Marble Halls, a very popular aria…
The main and longest work… by Julian Benedict, who in 1838 became the conductor of the English Opera at Drury Lane, has the same name as the album. It’s an Irish story helping to place it alongside the works of that country’s composers Balfe and Wallace in the so-called ‘Irish Ring’.
Thomas Dunhill’s Phantasy Suite, Howard Ferguson’s Four Short Pieces, William Vincent Wallace’s Fantasia on Maritana and mainly miniatures by Ruth Gipps, Joseph Holbrooke, Elizabeth Maconchy, Thomas Pitfield and Clarence Raybould complete the selection.
…
“An all-round quality product well worth investigating….”
