PAUL PATTERSON (b.1947): Phoenix Concerto, Op. 102, RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958): Oboe Concerto, HERBERT HOWELLS (1892-1983): Oboe Sonata (arr. Benjamin Wallfisch [b.1979]).

Description: You'll know how approachable Patterson's concertos are from this past January's Dutton Epoch release with three of them (01M010); here's a brand-new one from 2009 with the mythical Phoenix as its emblem, allowing for much mercurial, singing and dancing by the soloist in its outer movements which frame a languorous central nocturne. But even more striking is the conductor's transcription for string orchestra and harp of Howells' 1942 oboe sonata which was never performed until two years after his death. The orchestral writing for the piano was found hard to digest (and to play) and off-putting but the work really takes off as a concerto. Not far from the 1938 Hymnus Paradisi, a response to the death of his only son, and written during the darker days of World War II, there is much darkness and unease and its scherzando third movement is more combative than chipper. This new versioin actually really should get performed frequently. Emily Pailthorpe (oboe), English Chamber Orchestra; Benjamin Wallfisch.