Bax: Symphonic Variations / Concertante for Piano Left Hand

"Bax's epic Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra equals the Brahms piano concertos in length. Here is a new recording of it that supersedes the earlier Chandos version with Margaret Fingerhut and the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bryden Thomson. This powerful and poetic reading by Wass and Judd reveals more and assists in a deeper appreciation of this undervalued romantic work. This CD is certain to figure amongst my choice of recordings for 2009." (MusicWeb May 2009)

"…Bax's monumental Symphonic Variations was written in 1916-18 at the height of his torrid affair with Harriet Cohen… Ashley Wass and James Judd… seem to find an extra degree of rhythmic excitement in the bravura 'Strife' variation, and Wass's playing of the big solo at the start of the finale is eloquent..." BBC Music Magazine, May 2009 *****

"A marvellous musical team weaves its magic in this spellbinding repertoire. …Ashley Wass is the most stylish, characterful and charismatic of the three soloists: the way he shapes the spellbinding opening paragraph of the final section ("Triumph", one of Bax's symphonic epilogues in all but name) is sheer magic and betokens a true poet of the keyboard." Gramophone Magazine, June 2009

Bax completed five works for piano and orchestra, beginning in 1916 with the highly virtuosic Symphonic Variations dedicated to the pianist Harriet Cohen. The work was likened by Rosa Newmarch, who wrote the programme note for the first performance, 'to some great epic poem dealing with the adventures of a hero . . . Passing through a number of different experiences.'

The Concertante for Piano (Left Hand) and Orchestra (1949) is on a smaller scale. The romantic slow movement opens with a beautiful and haunting piano tune which gives way to a brooding atmospheric middle section, coloured by typical Baxian orchestral textures, like swirling mists in a nocturnal vision of some Irish coastal vista.