Let's add the Piano Concerto

 

What a joy to find a new piano concerto full of Americana!

Leroy Anderson's Piano Concerto in C is not new to record, but this series has gotten a lot of attention, so it will be a surprise to many who haven't sought it out before.

The work is grandly Romantic, but Anderson adds little hues of jazz and Latin styles for variety.

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue is a wonderful work, but boy do we need a larger pot to stir from when it comes to Americana concertante works on Pops and Independence Day concerts.

This one would be a fabulous addition!

A review from 2024

Leroy Anderson, America’s master of the light orchestral miniature, receives no less than five volumes on Naxos from Leonard Slatkin and the BBC Concert Orchestra to celebrate the composer’s birthday centenary.

Each of these 14 miniatures are tune-laden with oodles of orchestral colour and bursting in panache. There is a nice mix of the familiar and the brand new in Volume 1, not to mention a few unexpected humorous zingers. I personally love the cinematic First Day of Spring with its soaring horn which, along with the Golden Years, Balladette, and Arietta, provide contrast to Anderson’s penchant for the upbeat.

Having another recording of his Piano Concerto is a great addition. It exhibits high Romanticism ala Rachmaninov, filmic qualities ala Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto, plus there are spurts of Latin and Jazz interspersed as well. One can only hope this one makes it into Pops and July 4th concerts more frequently.

The few mid-to-low ratings seem to intimate that Leonard Slatkin takes things at a more measured pace compared to Leroy Anderson’s own recordings. My feeling is what a joy it is to have two differing approaches to this wonderful music, instead of a retread, music which can surprisingly hold its own for different tastes. So too, Slatkin doesn’t need to race through the music in order to fit these onto a 78rpm LP as Anderson did, and is afforded much better sound from Naxos.

Both Frederick Fennell and Arthur Fiedler were both strong supporters of Leroy Anderson's music and have recorded them as well. Otherwise, Slatkin and the BBC CO give this music a lush, Romantic portrayal, with plenty of spirit nonetheless.

Listen on YouTube

Works
Piano Concerto in in C (19.29)

Performers
Jeffrey Biegel, piano
BBC Concert Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin, conductor

Label: Naxos
Year: 2006
Total Timing: 61.54

Leroy Anderson's most famous bon-bons are spread across each of the five volumes on Naxos, including this first entry.

This leaves room to explore some very convincing lesser known gems.

I like this recording a lot, and the Piano Concerto is a wonderful piece of Americana.

 

 

 

Find more Leroy Anderson recording HERE!