Ireland's Piano Concerto was the only concerto he wrote. It was an immediate success, and for 40 years it was considered the outstanding British piano concerto, performed by all the leading players of the day such as Clifford Curzon, Moura Lympany and Artur Rubinstein. This release co-incides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Annarosa Taddei, the pianist in the Ireland Piano Concerto. This recording was made at the Italian premièr of the work. The Cello Sonata of Ireland is one of his most deeply passionate and expressive works. The recording on this album was issued for the first time in September 1929. Ireland is the pianist, and the cellist is the Catalan Antoni Sala who discovered the sonata, and came to London to give many performances and recorded it with the composer. If there were prizes on offer for the most-travelled composer of the twentieth century, the one who gave the most concerts, or the one who did most to help his composing colleagues, the Italian Alfredo Casella might well sweep the board. The catalogue of his activities as composer, arranger, conductor, keyboard player, teacher, concert organizer, writer and editor is simply mind-boggling. This FHR issue unites the only surviving (broadcast) recordings of Casella the orchestral conductor and Casella performing on piano with orchestra. Judging it to be one of his best pieces, Casella said of his Triple Concerto 'the great success my Concerto has met with right across Europe and both Americas' (North and South), recalling with particular enthusiasm the Trio Italiano's appearance with the 'prodigious' Boston Symphony Orchestra and their conductor Serge Koussevitzky early in 1936.
2 Ireland: Piano Concerto in E Flat Major I. in Tempo Moderato - Annarosa Taddei/Orchestra Sinfonica Della Rai
3 Ireland: Piano Concerto in E Flat Major II. Lento Espressivo - Annarosa Taddei/Orchestra Sinfonica Della Rai
4 Ireland: Piano Concerto in E Flat Major III. Allegretto Giocoso - Annarosa Taddei/Orchestra Sinfonica Della Rai
5 Ireland: Sonata for Cello and Piano I. Moderato Sostenuto - Antoni Sala/John Ireland
6 Ireland: Sonata for Cello and Piano II. Poco Largamente - Non Troppo Lento - Antoni Sala/John Ireland
7 Ireland: Sonata for Cello and Piano III. Con Moto E Marcato - Antoni Sala/John Ireland
8 Broadcast Announcement - Various Performers
9 Casella: Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Op. 56 I. Largo, Ampio, Solenne - Allegro Molto Vivace - Various Performers
10 Casella: Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Op. 56 II. Adagio. Adagio, Ma Mon Troppo. Alquanto Solenne Ed Assai Tranquillo - Various Performers
11 Casella: Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Op. 56Iii. Rondo. Tempo Di Giga, Allegro Vivace, Ma Non Troppo - Various Performers
Ireland's Piano Concerto was the only concerto he wrote. It was an immediate success, and for 40 years it was considered the outstanding British piano concerto, performed by all the leading players of the day such as Clifford Curzon, Moura Lympany and Artur Rubinstein. This release co-incides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Annarosa Taddei, the pianist in the Ireland Piano Concerto. This recording was made at the Italian premièr of the work. The Cello Sonata of Ireland is one of his most deeply passionate and expressive works. The recording on this album was issued for the first time in September 1929. Ireland is the pianist, and the cellist is the Catalan Antoni Sala who discovered the sonata, and came to London to give many performances and recorded it with the composer. If there were prizes on offer for the most-travelled composer of the twentieth century, the one who gave the most concerts, or the one who did most to help his composing colleagues, the Italian Alfredo Casella might well sweep the board. The catalogue of his activities as composer, arranger, conductor, keyboard player, teacher, concert organizer, writer and editor is simply mind-boggling. This FHR issue unites the only surviving (broadcast) recordings of Casella the orchestral conductor and Casella performing on piano with orchestra. Judging it to be one of his best pieces, Casella said of his Triple Concerto 'the great success my Concerto has met with right across Europe and both Americas' (North and South), recalling with particular enthusiasm the Trio Italiano's appearance with the 'prodigious' Boston Symphony Orchestra and their conductor Serge Koussevitzky early in 1936.
