Though Walton’s Cello concerto, written for Piatigorsky, and Britten’s tough and gritty Cello Symphony, written for Rostropovich, are strongly contrasted in mood and style, Julian Lloyd Webber in a unique coupling, passionately performed, draws fascinating parallels. Helped by sumptuous recording, his reading of the Walton firmly establishes this as a worthy counterpart to Walton’s two pre-war concerto masterpieces for Viola and violin, bringing out the beauty as well as the romantic warmth, helped by fine playing from Marriner and the Academy.
