Tasmin Little, Andrew Litton - Walton: Violin Concerto, Symphony No. 2, Scapino (1995)

The disc, recorded in the mid 1990s, contains two of the most popular Walton works and one of the least known as far as concert performances go. All three receive committed performances and the recording quality is excellent.

Walton's Scapino overture is essentially a sunny piece of work and was written while staying at his home in Italy. The music is not a detailed program piece such as Strauss' Till Eulenspiegel, but it inhabits the same world of roguish behaviour and general high spirits. This performance does the work full justice.

The violin concerto was the result of a commission from Heifetz and, after a prolonged delay in the composition, was first performed in 1939. It was immediately recognised as a masterpiece and as such can be considered as one of the great 20th century violin concertos. Tasmin Little provides a sparking account of the score and one that can reasonably be compared with other fine performances such as those by Kennedy and Chung for example. Kennedy provides a heavier-toned and interpreted performance nd Chung provides a quick-silvered approach. Both of those performances received Gramophone awards when first released, still sound as rewarding today and should not be discounted. I only mention them as recognised examples of equal excellence but with different approaches. Some of these tonal differences, of course, are also the result of different violins being used, each of which has its own unique input.

Getting back to Tasmin Little, I would rate her performance along with those of both Kennedy and Chung, but I would not replace either of them with this. The only solution is to have all three - the music is worth the duplication!

The symphony 2 was slow to achieve recognition and has never achieved the popularity of the more outwardly showy and spectacular symphony 1. It is on a smaller scale with less emphasis on the brassy moments. Nevertheless, the second symphony is still a very fine work and very recognisably true Walton with all his usual rhythmical and melodic characteristics. Szell's pioneering recording from many years ago was invaluable in bringing the work to the world's attention and Walton was thrilled with that recording. However, the recorded world has moved on a long way since then and this recording by Litton is far finer technically. Orchestral technique has also improved a lot since then so the outstanding quality of the Cleveland orchestra then can now be matched by the Bournemouth orchestra now. For the same reasons this recording is far finer than Walton's own early recording and can match Previn's fine version too. It therefore can be considered as occupying a leading position in terms of a good modern account.

In summary therefore, I would suggest that this is a very fine disc indeed and deserves to be considered very seriously by anyone interested in the program offered. The disc is arguably the best of Litton's Walton trio and would make a satisfying 'only' purchase. It is worth mentioning, however, that all three discs are now available as a boxed set which may therefore make an attractive alternative purchase.