Music and Vinyl: Tippett - Piano Concerto

Sir Michael Tippett (1905-1998) was one of the major British composers of the 20th century, and a few of his works have appeared here over the years.

Here we have a 1965 recording of Tippett's Piano Concerto. Composed between 1953 and 1955, the work had an inauspicious start when the original pianist intended for the work committed suicide (Noel Mewton-Wood) and his replacement, Julius Katchen walked out shortly before the 1956 premiere declaring the work unplayable. Louis Kentner then took over.

Tippett provided a note for the work - reproduced in the notes below, and a detailed background to the piece can be found here.

Alan Rawsthorne's 2nd Piano Concerto from this box set can be heard here,