Classical Music: Adrian Sutton: Violin Concerto

Adrian Sutton: Violin Concerto

War Horse Orchestral Suite (2023); Concerto for Violin & Orchestra (2023)*; A Fist Full of Fives (2016)*;Short Story (2022)*; Five Theatre Miniatures (2005, 2023)*
*Première Recordings

BBC Philharmonic
Michael Seal
Fenella Humphreys - violin
Chandos CHAN 20349
chandos.net
This is an utterly delightful album, full of accessible music from the composer of the music for War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and other National Theatre productions.

Following a devastating cancer diagnosis in September 2022, Adrian Sutton made a conscious decision to change his focus, committing himself to working solely on music for the concert hall.

This album opens with Sutton’s Violin Concerto, immediately transporting us to the skies, and, like a bird being carried by the undulations of the thermals across the ocean, we hear how that feeling is captured by the composer.

As Jonathan James writes in the liner notes: ‘The inspiration for the Violin Concerto came in three guises. From various coastlines, Sutton observed the majestic flight of a gull and imagined its musical counterpart. Then came an invitation to write a response to Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending, alongside another suggestion, namely to consider the life-affirming themes from Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.’

Sutton brilliantly portrays the spirit of the gull as it floats and darts over the sea, and Humphreys’ violin follows the contours, effortlessly lifting the listener with such beautiful, lyrical, soaring lines as the soloist and orchestra interweave with each other, especially the excellent woodwind. And, just as coastal weather can change, so does the mood of the music. This romantic-sounding concerto evokes numerous references to Vaughan Williams and Korngold, as well as Walton, whose rhythmic vitality and angular harmonies, according to Jonathan James, permeate much of Sutton's writing.

Sutton asserts, "This is the authentic musical version of me. My core musical DNA. The Violin Concerto in particular (being a violinist myself) is for me the main course on this disc, but the other works are a showcase for what I’ve always been about...”, a sentiment evident in the textural writing. Savour Humphreys' excellent playing and the tone of her violin.

There’s so much more to enjoy. A Fist Full of Fives, a ten-minute piece featuring asymmetrical rhythms, five themes, and fifths in its melodies, is enjoyable, while The Short Story encourages listeners to craft their own narrative through the music. These pieces exude rhythmic vitality and demonstrate Sutton's orchestration skills.

Sutton composed a suite for the stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s World War I story, War Horse, and again it evokes a period of English music from the time of composers like RVW and Bax; the strings are superb in conjuring up the wistful Devon landscape of the era.

The disc ends with Five Theatre Miniatures, where we jump on to the Orient Express, letting the music take us on a thrilling journey. Husbands and Sons is an attractive and lilting piece. The Gigue from Coram Boy is a cheerful and sprightly dance. Written for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, Polperro Beach is a reflective and wistful piece, featuring beautiful woodwind contributions. Meanwhile, Contagion, a tarantella, captures the joyful and infectious energy of bacteria spreading and wreaking havoc in the play Dr. Semmelweis.

Under Michael Seal's direction, the BBC Philharmonic enjoys interpreting the various titles with style. Chandos’ engineering team has excelled in recording Sutton’s compositions.

Sutton also says: "… ranging from the bracing and instrumentally challenging A Fist Full of Fives through to orchestral suites derived from my theatre works. I’m very proud of them all and pleased to have had the opportunity to share them."

Hear! Hear! I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to listen and write a review to share with readers.

Thoroughly enjoyable.