Delius: Suite for Violin & Orchestra

Dutton Epoch’s pioneering issue of unrecorded Delius conducted by David Lloyd-Jones includes Delius’s early tone poem Hiawatha in Robert Threlfall’s performing version. It proves to be a considerable find, the link between Florida and Paris winningly played by the BBC Concert Orchestra in their world premiere recording. It comes in a programme of concertos brilliantly performed by violinist Philippe Graffin and Sarah-Jane Bradley (viola). The principal work is the eloquent Lionel Tertis arrangement for violin and viola of the Double Concerto, in a world premiere recording that was recorded (Watford Town Hall) less than a mile from where it was written. Delius’s early Suite for violin and orchestra and the Legénde for violin and orchestra here receive only their second recordings, and are brilliantly projected by Philippe Graffin. The programme is rounded off by Sarah-Jane Bradley’s cherishable reading of the viola version of the Caprice and Elegy. It all adds up to an unmissable and unique survey.

To mark the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Delius, Heritage is thrilled to announce the re-release of ‘The Delius Collection’, a 7 CD slim-line wallet box of benchmark Delius recordings which originally appeared on the Unicorn Kanchana label. At the heart of this set are the recordings made by Eric Fenby and the RPO – interpretations of those works that Fenby took down or edited whilst working with the composer in the capacity of amanuensis. Further recordings from the Delius oeuvre are conducted by two luminaries of English music, Norman Del Mar and Vernon Handley with contributions from Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Sarah Walker, Felicity Lott, Thomas Allen, Julian Lloyd Webber and Ralph Holmes amongst others. Extensive liner notes are provided by Robert Matthew Walker as well as a ‘Foreword’ by Delius and Fenby authority, Stephen Lloyd. Full texts are included in the commemorative 28 page booklet.