William Bennett

I Musici here performs the concerti grossi of Alessandro Scarlatti and his flute concerti. Scarlatti tended to be rather conservative in his compositions by adhering strictly to Corelli's concerto grosso model. He is not Vivaldi, Locatelli, or Torelli, but his pieces have somewhat of a pastoral warmth to them.

I Musici here performs the concerti grossi of Alessandro Scarlatti and his flute concerti. Scarlatti tended to be rather conservative in his compositions by adhering strictly to Corelli's concerto grosso model. He is not Vivaldi, Locatelli, or Torelli, but his pieces have somewhat of a pastoral warmth to them.

Mozart claimed to dislike the flute and, for that matter, the harp as well which also plays a prominent role in this compilation. But in spite of that, he produced music for the flute in a variety of genres all of which is delightful and much of which is masterful. This release on Philips's "duo" series presents an excellent opportunity for an overview of Mozart's works for flute, well played. It also offers a rare opportunity to hear a variety of performers on the flute and other instruments and orchestras.

For the first time, this collection brings together the complete woodwind chamber music of France's leading composers in the medium: Debussy, Saint-Saëns, Ravel and Poulenc. In a set which evinces the now familiar Cala hallmark of creatively combining established treasures with enticing discoveries, including here four world première recordings. Volume One presents the works of Debussy and Saint-Saëns and Volume Two those of Ravel and Poulenc. Each volume contains two full-length CDs (well over two hours of music) for the price of one.

The ‘air-spun brilliance and stylistic elegance’ which Gramophone so admired in Howard Shelley’s previous recording of Sterndale Bennett is in abundant evidence in this new release of the first three piano concertos.

The Romantic Piano Concerto series returns to England, and explores further fascinating and little-known repertoire. Indeed, the concerto by Francis Edward Bache (1833–1858) has perhaps never been performed. The composer, a pupil of Sterndale Bennett, and acclaimed at a young age by contemporaries all over Europe as a prodigious talent of whom great things were expected, died of TB at the age of 25, leaving the manuscript of his Piano Concerto in the library of the Royal Academy of Music, where it has languished until this recording. This enchanting work is a great discovery. Also on the disc are two accomplished works by the composer-pianist Sterndale Bennett. The indefatigable Howard Shelley directs the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra from the piano.

The ‘air-spun brilliance and stylistic elegance’ which Gramophone so admired in Howard Shelley’s previous recording of Sterndale Bennett is in abundant evidence in this new release of the first three piano concertos.