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Kenneth Hamilton plays Ronald Stevenson Vol.2 | Prima Facie PFCD107

Kenneth Hamilton plays Ronald Stevenson Vol.2

£11.38

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Label: Prima Facie

Cat No: PFCD107

Barcode: 0712396065487

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Instrumental

Release Date: 12th July 2019

Contents

About

Following the outstanding acclaim offered to the first CD of this series, Prima Facie is proud to present Volume 2 of Kenneth Hamilton plays Ronald Stevenson.

Kenneth Hamilton, a former student, friend and colleague of the composer, performs Ronald Stevenson’s music with “understanding and brilliance” (Andrew McGregor, BBC Radio 3 Record Review). Volume 2 features a riveting collection of Celtic pieces, including the coruscating Keening Sang for a Makar, Stevenson’s complete Purcell transcriptions, and the first recording of the wonderfully witty Threepenny Sonatina, based on themes from Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera.

Ronald Stevenson (1928-2015) was Scotland’s Franz Liszt - a fascinatingly fertile and highly contentious figure in the world of contemporary music: virtuoso composer-pianist, passionate polemicist and cultural crusader. Stevenson’s multifarious musical interests, left wing political leanings and enlightened Scottish nationalism led him to be labelled as a neo-Romantic reactionary, or even as a socialist-realist. But in the wake of his recent death, we can see him more clearly as a post-modernist born before his time, penning works of emotional intensity, imagination and vigour in a defiantly distinctive voice- producing some of the most thought-provoking piano music of the 20th century.

Described after a concerto performance as “an outstanding virtuoso - one of the finest players of his generation” (Moscow Kommersant), by the New York Times as a performer “of energy and wit”, and by Tom Service in The Guardian as “an all-round virtuoso”, Kenneth Hamilton performs worldwide as a recitalist, and broadcasts regularly on the BBC.

“Hamilton brings exactly the right degree of control to the unstoppable streams of musical ideas, without ever compromising their energy or technical brilliance.” - Andrew Clements, The Guardian

“All the pieces are tackled with real passion. This is an unmissable disc, and one waits impatiently for Volume Two.” - Colin Clarke, Fanfare

“A gorgeous recording and excellent performance...Kenneth Hamilton’s sumptuous tone is part of the treat.” - Jack Sullivan, American Record Review

“Kenneth Hamilton is quite magnificent...One marvels at Stevenson’s creative genius, particularly in performances as fine as these.” - Bruce Reader, The Classical Reviewer

Reviews

As with Volume 1, this original, distinctive, well-written and extremely engrossing music is played supremely well by Stevenson’s pupil Kenneth Hamilton, who is, moreover, exceptionally well recorded... A disc which every music lover attracted to piano music of the last half-century and more will wish to possess. It is most comprehensively recommended from every angle.  Robert Matthew-Walker
Musical Opinion
As was the case for volume one of this survey of unique and compelling music, Kenneth Hamilton, who came to know the composer personally at the end of his life, plays with heart-warming conviction and emotional depth.  Peter Burwasser
Fanfare
Kenneth Hamilton has been rightly praised for his pianistic command of Stevenson’s many idioms... and for his scholarly command of the composer’s life and work... Solid engineering, too. A winner. Five stars: A fine introduction to Stevenson’s art.  Peter J. Rabinowitz
Fanfare
Kenneth Hamilton ... seems entirely attuned to this repertoire, which comes as no surprise, given his friendship and musical association with the composer. ... when Stevenson reworks Purcell in his own image, the results prove more fluent and organic, and Hamilton’s playing truly comes into its own.  Jed Distler
Gramophone January 2020

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