From Boulez to Broadway, a British composer without borders
Daily Comfort ZoneRichard Rodney Bennett was one of the most versatile and underrated composers of our time.
His 2011 Lebrecht Interview is full of surprises.
Listen here.
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John Wilson recorded 4 albums of Richard Rodney Bennett’s music for Chandos. Includes Symphony No.3 and Piano Concerto. worth checking out. As NL says he was very underrated
Chandos also recorded a disc of RRB’s orchestral music conducted by the late great Richard Hickox. It contains some of the most beautiful late 20th/early 21st century music I’ve ever heard on one disc…
1) Partita (1995)
2) Reflections on a Sixteenth Century Tune (1999)
3) Songs before Sleep (2002-03)
4) Reflections on a Scottish Folk Song (2004)
The Wilson/Chandos discs are highly desirable – Symphony No.3 is a masterpiece IMHO.
I once had the honor of producing a CD of Mr. Bennett’s music for children, with the composer himself at the piano. A kind, incredibly bright, wickedly witty gentleman, not a trace of ego, and quite a marvelous composer.