Walton Cello Concerto

[Barbirollians]

Listening to the Tortelier recording this evening it strikes me that this is a very underrated piece . What do other forumites think ?

[antongould]

I agree terribly underrated - I first heard an extract years ago on Private Passions and it has been a favourite ever since. I haven't heard it for a while which I shall remedy as soon as I have got my grandson to bed!

[Suffolkcoastal]

Very underrated piece and I've long admired the concerto, two other later works, the 2nd Symphony & Hindemith Variations are also very fine works and I would love to see them broadcast more often than they currently are.

[Ferretfancy]

It was the thing to say that Walton lost the thread in his later works, continuing to mine the same seam. Well, what a seam!
I remember being bowled over by the Piatigorsky recording when it first appeared on LP, and I have loved it ever since. There is a much admired recent recording by Jamie Walton ( no relation ) I have not had time to hear it yet.
Just out of interest, I was a lowly tape operator at the BBC's Grafton studio back in 1960, and had the job of taping the first performance of the 2nd Symphony from Edinburgh on 2nd September, with John Pritchard conducting. I would love to see that reissued.

[Alf-Prufrock]

Another great late work - and very enjoyable too - is the Partita. There is no truth in the malignant rumour that Walton declined after the war.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Another great late work - and very enjoyable too - is the Partita. There is no truth in the malignant rumour that Walton declined after the war.

On a more general note, I've often wondered why Chandos's 23-CD Walton Edition was so shortlived. If it were available now, I would buy it. I was too strapped for cash at the time of its issue.

[Bryn]

Very underrated piece and I've long admired the concerto, two other later works, the 2nd Symphony & Hindemith Variations are also very fine works and I would love to see them broadcast more often than they currently are.

Sadly, Walton performances seem to have suffered the same decline in number that those of his friend Hindemith's have, and let's not forget that it was the Hindemith Cello Concerto which provided the theme for Walton's Hindemith Variations. I too have much admired Walton's later works since first hearing.

[Norfolk Born]

I agree that Walton's concerti seem to be shamefully ignored.

[Lion-of-Vienna]

There is a much admired recent recording by Jamie Walton ( no relation ) I have not had time to hear it yet.

This recording also includes a revised version of the finale which has, apparently, never been performed or recorded. Piatigorsky asked Walton for a "less melancholy ending" and the composer agreed adding a new 22 bar ending to the work.

[EdgeleyRob]

I agree terribly underrated - I first heard an extract years ago on Private Passions and it has been a favourite ever since. I haven't heard it for a while which I shall remedy as soon as I have got my grandson to bed!

I have the same problem when my grandson stays.It's always a relief when he is asleep and I can switch off black eyed peas and put on some decent music.
The Walton is another example of excellent but neglected British music.

I know I have this CD in my collection somewhere http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walton-Conce.../dp/B000025LGY but I can't find it

[pilamenon]

I didn't know this work before playing Jamie Walton's new recording a week or two back. It is indeed wonderful.

[prokkyshosty]

On a more general note, I've often wondered why Chandos's 23-CD Walton Edition was so shortlived. If it were available now, I would buy it. I was too strapped for cash at the time of its issue.

I might as well have written this! They really should bring it back. They'd sell at least two of them, clearly.

[Roehre]

Listening to the Tortelier recording this evening it strikes me that this is a very underrated piece . What do other forumites think ?

Very simple, it IS an underrated and unjustly neglected work, I concur with the other contributors wholeheartedly.

[Roehre]

I might as well have written this! They really should bring it back. They'd sell at least two of them, clearly.

At least three, as I myself got one, a friend of mine has, and a colleague of mine too.

[Alf-Prufrock]

On a more general note, I've often wondered why Chandos's 23-CD Walton Edition was so shortlived. If it were available now, I would buy it. I was too strapped for cash at the time of its issue.

I bought many individual volumes when they were full price and as they came out. An expensive way to do it, but in those days I was earning money. I have just counted them up and the total comes to 18. I wonder if I would buy the collected edition and duplicate 18 CDs if it appeared on the market again!

Avoiding duplication is a concern of mine these poorer days, I fear.