Lloyd with the Violin & Cello

 

This is my favorite set from Lyrita's George Lloyd Signature Edition series.

All three string concertos are fully Neo-Romantic, in true George Lloyd style, and all three are beautiful works.

Romanian violinist Cristina Anghelescu really digs into each of the violin concertos with relish. Both are played by the Philharmonia Orchestra, but the first comes with only winds and the second with string orchestra.

I notice the ensemble work less in the Violin Concerto with Winds, where it seems the violin belongs in the spotlight. On the other hand, it is very apparent the Violin Concerto with Strings has more of an interplay between soloist and ensemble.

Otherwise, both concertos are beautiful, Romantic works and ends up among some of my favorite compositions from George Lloyd.

The lone Cello Concerto follows the trend of wonderfulness. It comes in one movement, with seven continuous, unbroken sections. This allows for greater musical contrast, although the general feeling for me is wistfulness and nostalgia. The focus on lyricism is great for a cello concerto, for that string instrument sings like no other.

Cellist Anthony Ross receives a lot more limelight in this concerto, where cello appears by itself throughout; indeed the whole work begins with solo cello alone, a strong opening statement from the composer. The Cello Concerto sounds very much like a very personal work, a fitting conclusion to a long compositional career.

The Violin Concertos were recorded shortly before George Lloyd's death and the Cello Concerto some years after. Thus, we have David Alan Miller leading the Albany Symphony Orchestra, as he did in The Serf (BLOG), and David Parry leads the Philharmonia Orchestra. Both conductors seem excited by the chance to record some of the last of Lloyd's oeuvre.

This ends my coverage of George Lloyd's music for now. I didn't include Sir Edward Downes' recordings, nor some peripheral works elsewhere. Perhaps at a later date I can cover those. Let's hope Lloyd's music springs anew, but for now this series has been a wonderful reissue and tribute to the composer.

 

 Listen on YouTube

 

 

 

 

Works
Cello Concerto (29.40)
Violin Concerto with Winds (29.48)
Violin Concerto with Strings (34.34)

Soloists
Cristina Anghelescu, violin
Anthony Ross, cello

Performers
Albany Symphony Orchestra
  David Alan Miller, conductor
Philharmonia Orchestra
  David Parry, conductor

Label: Albany & Lyrita
Year: 1998-2001; 2024
Timing: 1.34.02

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite set from Lyrita's reissuing of George Lloyd's Albany and Conifer recordings.

Both soloists 'get' Lloyd's music, and while the composer is no longer at the podium, these don't seem to suffer in the least.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Lloyd recordings HERE!