The musical language of the New York-based Arnold Rosner (1945–2013) clothes the modal harmony and rhythm of pre-Baroque polyphony in rich Romantic colours, producing a style that is instantly recognisable and immediately appealing.

The Piano Concerto which opens this album reveals that his personality was present from the start: although it was written before he had any formal training in composition, its confidence and individuality are striking. The other works here show the range of Rosner’s music, from his fondness for Elizabethan dance and his exploration of symphonic minimalism to an identification with his Jewish roots, in a harrowing setting for speaker and orchestra of extracts from the diary of the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto. This release marks the first appearance of the London Philharmonic Orchestra on Toccata Classics.

The actor Peter Riegert is a familiar presence on stage, screen and television. His participation in Arnold Rosner’s From the Diaries of Adam Czerniaków is his first role in a contemporary classical composition. Pianist Peter Vinograde is widely recognised as both an outstanding interpreter of the music of Bach and an eloquent advocate of contemporary music, through recordings and performances. David Amos has developed a distinguished reputation as a conductor who discovers lesser-known orchestral works of high quality and introduces them to audiences through concerts and recordings.