Notes and Editorial Reviews
John Ireland was an exceptional composer for the piano, as was his contemporary York Bowen. He may not have been a "major" composer in a conventional sense, but his work deserves to be better known, especially outside of England. His Piano Concerto is a masterpiece. Sure, the influence of Prokofiev is obvious, but Ireland embraces it and makes it his own. Written in 1930, it offers a combination of romantic glamor, saucy wit, and lyrical expressiveness that's quite personal and memorable. John Lenehan plays it as well as anybody has to date, with a very winning combination of fluidity in passagework and an easy rhythmic precision in the finale that sounds just right.
Legend,
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a tone poem for piano and orchestra, lives up to its name. It's a brooding, dramatic work that, like so many short pieces for piano and orchestra, never will be heard in concert because of its brevity. Why doesn't some pianist put together a program of tone poems for piano and orchestra and turn them into a "mini" concerto? Anyway, what makes this program so attractive is the inclusion of the solo piano works. Lenehan already has produced several fine discs of Ireland's piano music, and there's no question that he understands the idiom. The pieces on offer here really show Ireland's range, from the passionate First Rhapsody to the poetic Sea Idyll and colorful Three Dances. Excellent sonics too.
– David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
Rhapsody for Piano "First" by John Ireland
Performer:
John Lenehan (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1906
2.
Legend by John Ireland
Performer:
John Lenehan (Piano)
Conductor:
John Wilson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1933; England
3.
Dances (3) for Piano by John Ireland
Performer:
John Lenehan (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1913
4.
Concerto for Piano in E flat major by John Ireland
Performer:
John Lenehan (Piano)
Conductor:
John Wilson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1930; England
5.
A Sea Idyll by John Ireland
Performer:
John Lenehan (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1899-1900; England
6.
Pastoral by John Ireland
Performer:
John Lenehan (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1896
7.
Indian Summer by John Ireland
Performer:
John Lenehan (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1932
Sound Samples
Piano Concerto in E flat major: I. In tempo moderato
Piano Concerto in E flat major: II. Lento espressivo
Piano Concerto in E flat major: III. Allegretto giocoso
First Rhapsody in F sharp minor
A Sea Idyll: I. Poco andante
A Sea Idyll: II. Allegro appassionato
3 Dances: No. 1. Gypsy Dance
3 Dances: No. 2. Country Dance
3 Dances: No. 3. Reapers' Dance
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Excellent Concerto and Solo Piano Music March 1, 2013
By Henry S. (Springfield, VA) See All My Reviews
"British composer John Ireland's Piano Concerto is a sprightly, exuberant and highly entertaining composition, and in spots even sounds jazzy and somewhat reminiscent of George Gershwin. The piano scoring is strong and positive, backed up and accompanied by snappy, sharp orchestral sequences. The other piece for piano and orchestra, Legend, is a more subdued and introspective work, which offers a stylistic contrast to the concerto. The rest of this compact disk, about 40 minutes, contains 5 lyrical and very melodic pieces for solo piano. Soloist John Lenahan is excellent, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra provides its customary glowing sound. Naxos has again constructed a very high quality disk with this Ireland release, and it should find favor with anyone who samples it. Recommended."
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