Sir Richard Rodney Bennett - Orchestral Works, Volume 2

“Chandos are really looking after those of us who appreciate the wide-ranging skills of this fine contemporary composer, and this new CD is exemplary in its variety. The stand-out item in both interest and performance is the Saxophone Concerto, which is given a magnificent account in its range, emotion and swagger by Howard McGill… John Wilson and the orchestra play with great commitment, precision and tightness.”

“… Wilson’s performance with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is most accomplished … the biggest testament to Bennett’s prowess as a composer – is the fact that whether he’s flexing his intellectual muscle in the Second Symphony, schmoozing in the Sax Concerto’s slow movement or simply having a good time in the Partita, this is unmistakably the work of the same composer.”

“… All good then, crisply performed by John Wilson's BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, sounding refulgent in the warm acoustic of Glasgow’s City Halls. Good sleeve notes too.”

Performance *****          Recording *****

“… The performance of all these works, under the composer’s friend John Wilson, are exemplary. The players of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra treat Bennett’s melodic lines with just the expressive flexibility they need, and meet the technical challenges of the Symphony with aplomb. Howard McGill brings expertise of a seasoned jazz soloist to the Concerto: the central Elegy, in slow waltz time, is quite simply gorgeous. The handsome recording (with an SACD option) does justice to the playing and to Bennett’s always lucid orchestral sonorities.”

“… this second volume in John Wilson and the BBC SSO’s invigorating exploration of fascinating orchestral works by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett breaks down the false walls between two musical worlds and will appeal to anyone willing to explore, discover, or simply enjoy great music.”

“… Such was Bennett’s complete mastery of his craft that the numerous subtleties within each of his scores can easily tend to be overlooked: his is music to return to often, when – I am sure – further and deeper characteristics, of unification and expression, will surely be revealed. This Chandos series will surely be one of the most significant in British music for quite a few years.” *****

“… As John Wilson’s performance with the BBC Symphony Orchestra shows, it [Symphony No. 2] stands up well as a fabulously fluent, brilliantly scored piece…”

“…the gritty Symphony, amiable Serenade and tuneful Partita are worth rediscovering in Wilson’s empathetic performances.”