Stevens: Orchestral Music Vol. 3

The Welsh-born composer Robin Stevens, who lived in Manchester for many years, went through two distinctly separate phases in his compositional career. After a long break due to illness, he increasingly turned to large-scale orchestral works and created several concertos as well as symphonic compositions.

The tone poem "Mourning into Dancing" was Stevens’ first work for large orchestra and combines colorful instrumentation with rhythmic energy and a keen sense of orchestral dramaturgy. The large-scale concerto for viola and orchestra unfolds symphonic dimensions across four movements, with the solo viola simultaneously driving and commenting on the musical action. In between stands the lighter "Concert Rondo" for flute and small orchestra as a deliberately contrasting work within the program.

As with the two previous releases, Paul Mann conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Flutist Katherine Bryan and violist Paul Silverthorne took on the solo parts for the "Concert Rondo" and the Viola Concerto, respectively.