The Romantic Piano Concerto - 73

ROGER SACHEVERELL COKE (1912-1972): Piano Concertos No. 3 in E Flat, Op. 30, No. 4 in C Sharp Minor, Op. 38 and No. 5 in D Minor (fragment), Op. 57 (World Premiere Recordings).

Description: In August two years ago (08R059), regarding a disc of Coke’s piano music recorded by the same pianist, “If you like Rachmaninov and Medtner, you’re going to like this - the big Romantic gestures, heroic manner and flamboyant display but with more modern, dense harmonies. One can imagine what his six piano concertos (!) ... must have sounded like.” Now we don’t have to imagine any longer. The first two were withdrawn but No. 3 (1938) has the rhapsodic sweep of Rachmaninov at his best while 1940’s No. 4, a darker and more turbulent work (keep in mind that Coke was a diagnosed schizophrenic), is very reminiscent of late Scriabin. If the Fifth (1947-50) was ever completed, we don’t have its other movements; all that’s left is a nine-minute Andante piacevole whose bleak austerity suggests late Sibelius. Simon Callaghan (piano), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; Martyn Brabbins.