| …this set of songs is of such quality as to make me wish to see and hear other music by this gifted composer. | ||
| —Musical Opinion |
Click the quotation text to discover what it refers to!
| …this set of songs is of such quality as to make me wish to see and hear other music by this gifted composer. | ||
| —Musical Opinion |
Click the quotation text to discover what it refers to!
£6.50
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| Anyone with an interest in 20th Century cello music should investigate this disc and in the process discover some of Bax’s most fascinating works – all performed and recorded here to perfection. | ||
| —Richard R. Adams, The Sir Arnold Bax Website |
| [The Rhapsodic Ballad creates] a gnarly interior dialogue, which Handy grapples with head-on, clearly laying out its dramatic profile. | ||
| —Edward Bhesania, The Strad (September 2013) |
Bax’s Legend-Sonata, the major work featured on this disc, was written for Florence Hooton and was first performed by her in 1943. This CD was released to mark Florence Hooton’s centenary in 2012 and features her pupil, the acclaimed cellist Lionel Handy, accompanied by Nigel Clayton in a highly authoritative set of performances. Lionel is a long-serving professor at the Royal Academy of Music, teaches at the Birmingham Conservatoire and in summer schools throughout Europe, and has been guest principal with most leading UK orchestras. He writes:
The inspiration for this recording was the centenary of Florence Hooton in 2012. While studying at the Royal Academy of Music I was greatly encouraged by her dynamic teaching. Florence herself worked closely with many composers, and her rapport with Bax enabled her to pass on invaluable insights into interpreting his works.
—Lionel Handy
The CD is a particularly high-quality production: aside from its authoritative and well-recorded performances, no expense has been spared in its manufacture. It features a lavish 12-page booklet containing an essay by Lewis Foreman and a picture-disc, with full-colour printing throughout (see sample images and track samples below). A must for all Bax fans!
(Click to enlarge)
| Composer | Title | Performer(s) | Total duration | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Arnold Bax | BAX: Works for Cello and Piano Lionel Handy, cello & Nigel Clayton, piano | Lionel Handy, ’Cello, Nigel Clayton, Piano | 01:05:58 | ||||
| # | Composer | Work | Movement | Performer(s) | Duration | ||
| 1 | Sir Arnold Bax | Sonatina in D for cello and piano (1933) | I: Allegro risoluto | Lionel Handy, ’Cello, Nigel Clayton, Piano | 00:04:54 | ||
| 2 | II: Andante | 00:06:19 | |||||
| 3 | III: Moderato | 00:04:15 | |||||
| 4 | Rhapsodic Ballad for solo cello (1939) | Lionel Handy, ’Cello | 00:13:57 | ||||
| 5 | Folk-Tale for cello and piano (1918) | Lionel Handy, ’Cello, Nigel Clayton, Piano | 00:09:19 | ||||
| 6 | Legend-Sonata in F♯ minor for cello and piano (1943) | I: Allegro risoluto | 00:10:29 | ||||
| 7 | II: Lento espressivo | 00:08:45 | |||||
| 8 | III: Rondo: Allegro | 00:07:58 | |||||
Catalogue code: SLV1007 • Published: 23rd November 2012
Entry last updated: 26th April 2014