Rawsthorne's Pianoforte Concerto MUSIC THE most interesting novelty in last
week's Promenade programmes was a pianoforte concerto by Alan Rawsthorne, which was con- ducted by the composer with Mr. Louis Kentner as pianist. This proved to be not a new work but a revised version for full orchestra of a composition produced at one of Mr. Hallis's concerts in 1939, when the orchestra consisted of strings and percussion. It was in fact chamber-music, with the pianoforte used in the old concertante manner and not in the romantic style as an individual voice con- trasted with the orchestral chorus. In its new form, for all the use of a large orchestra, it remains a chamber-work, dependent for its effect upon wit, lyrical charm and the niceties of instrumentation. The first movement, though an attractive caprice, has insufficient musical substance to fill its place and the cleverly calculated anti- climax of the finale, which is a delightful and amusing tarantella, does not really make its point in the large concert hall where the broad sweep and the bold stroke are essential. The slow movement in the form of a chaconne has the most substance in it, and is a very lovely piece of music. The scoring throughout is masterly without being over-clever, and the solo instrument justifies its presence by con- tributing the most interesting remarks to the discussion of the subject-matter. It was admirably played by Mr. Kentner.
DYNELEY HUSSEY.
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