Lynn Hagens

If Prokofiev's Symphony-Concerto for cello and orchestra and Shostakovich's Second Concerto for cello and orchestra had heretofore seemed to be late works shot through with nostalgia and bitterness, that's certainly entirely understandable. Rostropovich, the works' dedicatee who gave both their world premieres, played them that way in his recorded performances and most subsequent cellists have naturally followed his lead.

Joe Lynn Turner (JLT) never ceases to amaze at the number of projects he puts out on a yearly basis. Besides his comrade, Glenn Hughes, Joe must be one of the hardest working vocalists in Rock. Since 1977, Joe has appeared on no less than 94 albums! His most famous work, of course, is as front man for the band Rainbow in the early 80’s. Besides that daunting task, Joe has since then managed to front Deep Purple (2004), put out a multitude of solo albums, combined projects (Yngwie Malmsteen, Glenn Hughes, Mother’s Army, etc.) and a mile long list of tribute albums.

Like other European composers of his generation, Miklós Rósza, born in Hungary in 1907, found political and creative sanctuary in Hollywood, where he wrote concert music and many notable film scores. These three works clearly show that he never lost his roots in his native folk music. The violin concerto, a lush, romantic piece, was written at the urging of Jascha Heifetz and is tailored to his and his instrument's strengths, with singing, soaring melodies, brilliant passage work, and a very effective cadenza. Later, Heifetz and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky asked Rósza to write a piece for them; the "Theme and Variations" is the slow movement of a longer work. It is beautifully written for both instruments; based on a Hungarian melody, the variations are wonderfully inventive and varied in mood, character, and expression. The Cello Concerto too is extremely difficult and virtuosic, often quite wild and aggressive, and full of contrasts. The orchestration is excellent throughout, but not too heavy.

This recording couples world premiere piano duet versions of two important works by William Walton with the first recording of a 'student' piece by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Walton's first Symphony was composed between 1931 and 1935. Crown Imperial was written as a march for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the late Queen Mother) in 1937.