All three works on this CD were composed for the pianist Harriet Cohen, who was a major figure in Bax's life as both lover and muse.
Performer Biography
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, featured on this recording, was founded in 1893 and has worked with famous composers and conductors including Elgar, Sibelius, and Stravinsky.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The major formative influence on Arnold Bax was Ireland and the poetry of W.B. Yeats, with its landscape, folklore, and literature serving as his prime inspiration.
Performer Biography
Ashley Wass, the pianist on this recording, is the only British pianist to have won First Prize at the London International Piano Competition.
Recording & Production
The recording for this album took place at The Lighthouse, Poole, UK, from June 21st to 22nd, 2010.
Composer Biography
Arnold Bax, a major British composer between the two world wars, was knighted in 1937 and appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1942.
Compositional Technique
Arnold Bax did not consider Winter Legends a conventional piano concerto, describing it as a sinfonia concertante where the piano acts as an important orchestral instrument.
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