Arthur Benjamin's Violin Concerto features three linked movements, with thematic material derived from a six-note pentatonic figure that appears at the beginning and end of the work.
Recording & Production
Richard Itter, a private collector, made domestic recordings of BBC transmissions from 1952-1996, which form the basis of The Lyrita Recorded Edition Trust Archive.
Performer Biography
Alfredo Campoli, the violinist performing Moeran's concerto, was celebrated for his purity of tone and passionate intensity, and premiered Arthur Bliss's Violin Concerto.
Composer's Artistic Vision
E.J. Moeran's Violin Concerto, completed in 1942, was inspired by the composer's beloved west of Ireland and is avowedly Irish in tone.
Critical Reception
Despite its quality, E.J. Moeran's Violin Concerto was neglected, with no commercial recording made during his lifetime and its first BBC Proms appearance since 1951 occurring in 2014.
Composition History
Arnold Bax's Violin Concerto, though written for Jascha Heifitz, was never played by him and was premiered by Eda Kersey in November 1943.
Performer Biography
Derek Collier, the English violinist performing Benjamin's concerto, studied at the Royal Academy of Music and with Alfredo Campoli, and led several major orchestras.
