Hyperion's lavishly produced and succulently informative series dedicated
to the Romantic Piano Concerto has unearthed some truly buried treasure.
The memorable discs dedicated to Dohnanyi, Paderewski and Medtner spring
to mind but in my book; none is more striking than this sensational Brull
disc. I had never even heard of this composer who was apparently quite a
prodigy, composing his first concerto at the tender age of fourteen! Don't
expect any immature squabbling, this is indeed a work to rank with the best
barnstormers around for cliffhanging virtuosity.
The opening movement takes thirteen note-spinning minutes and the broad memorable
melody that dominates the music is quite inspirational. A short but tender
Andante preludes the dashing and whirlwind Presto Finale, a logical
and tempestuous conclusion to what is one of the most astonishing concertos
ever composed by a teenager. Martin Roscoe is the ideal advocate, playing
with disarming skill and virtuosity; he indeed finds much devilish trickery
in the latter Presto. The rare Andante and Allegro is a much
later work, in a Konzerstuck mode and contains much fine melodic invention.
Roscoe's impeccable delivery cannot be faulted and he receives some outstanding
accompaniment from the BBC Scottish players. There is a certain heroic grandeur
about the Allegro vivace that made me recall the Brahms D Minor although
to be fair, Brull's music is quite originally different. This brings us to
the 2nd concerto, a similarly conceived work to its predecessor
but perhaps more memorable. Certainly the symphonic sweep of the Allegro
moderato carries all before it although the piano is given the lion's
share of the melodic intuitivity.
I could hardly agree more with the note-writer's veiled comparisons with
Beethoven's Fourth Concerto, indeed the lyrical outpourings of Brull's
barnstormers is full of Beethovenian spirit lurking in the shadows. All is
solved in one memorable dash to the finish line in the Allegro movement that
has Roscoe at his most daring in terms of exhilarating risk-taking whilst
Brabbins and his players are more than a match in this jolly romp! Hyperion's
recording is on the dry side but this suits these concertos superbly with
just the right balance between piano and orchestra. Dr Harmut Wecker's notes
recreate some of the forgotten nineteenth century traditions to life in an
informative but characterful essay. Those who have been collecting this wonderful
series need obviously not hesitate but Brull deserves to win wider currency
for these works, which should indeed be in the repertoire of any self-respecting
concert pianist.
Reviewer
Gerald Fenech
Performance:
Sound:
Martin Roscoe BBC Symphony Orchestra Martyn
Brabbins
