Search - Hamilton Harty, Bryden Thomson, Ulster Orchestra :: Piano Concerto/With the Wild Geese/In Ireland

Cherishable

David Saemann | 06/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hamilton Harty's music is a real find. He orchestrates with a beautiful romantic touch, which is never bloated or too heavy. He also has a splendid feel for lyric drama. You almost could say from listening to his music that he must have been a very nice man, the music just has that kind of feeling to it. This is the second CD I bought of the Piano Concerto. My first on Naxos with Peter Donohoe did not grab me to the degree Malcolm Binns's performance does. It is a warm and lovely piece that never outstays its welcome. As for the purely orchestral works, In Ireland contains a beautifully played flute solo, while With The Wild Geese is truly thrilling. This was one of Bryden Thomson's earliest recordings, in which he was revealed as one of the unsung great conductors of his generation. The 1983 Chandos sound is excellent, too, with just a bit less detail than they captured somewhat later. Harty is a lovely composer, and I can't recommend these performances highly enough."