Here are two more Romantic violin concertos from Hyperion, and pretty ones too. The Coleridge-Taylor was nicely done last year (2004) on Avie, with a less enterprising coupling (the Dvorák), an equally good violinist, and with slightly less sprightly accompaniments. The piece clearly owes a lot to Dvorák, though it’s a more sprawling musical edifice, with a finale in particular that can hang fire. That’s not a problem here: Anthony Marwood has the measure of the music and doesn’t linger unnecessarily in the outer movements, while Martyn Brabbins runs his usual tight ship. The Somervell concerto actually is more interesting in the sense that it’s just as melodically attractive and more formally compact. Its zippy finale is wholly charming, and although there isn’t a major, distinctive personality at work here, the music is definitely well made, well played, and very well recorded. In short, like the previous releases in this series, this is a lovable disc, full of very pleasing music. Earth-shattering? No. But good, clean entertainment all the same.
