Britten's "Diversions" has been one of my favorite piano concertos ever since I discovered it at age 16. In my view it's superior to his Piano Concerto (for both hands, of course). This magnificent performance is one of the best I have ever heard, and quite possibly the best one of all that I've heard. Many thanks for posting this !
Found this looking for something I hadn't heard before. Not disappointed. Thank you for posting, and sincere appreciation to Benjamin Britten one of my favorite 20th century composers, may he RIP.
What an amazing performance. Ms Aliya Akbergenova gives a thrilling presentation of this rarely-played piece and I liked the really good sound of the National Symphonic Orchestra of Ukraine. Bravissima!!!!
Brava Aliya that is a stunning performance. An interesting performance. Gentle, but strong. Very well done my dear, you have understood our English composer beautifully. I am sure that BB was smiling on you when you were performing. Brava.
It is great to see and hear a revival of this unjustly neglected work. Of all of 9 left hand concertos commissioned by the very rich Paul Wittgenstein only the Ravel one so far has become a repertoire piece. Wittgenstein outright rejected Prokofiev's then haggled about paying the fee. The same happened to Hindemith. Wittgenstein complained to the rather young Benjamin Britten that the orchestration was not to his liking but that turned out to be just a ploy to have some solo parts made easier to play. Britten did not change the orchestration and restored the piano changes in 1950 once the Wittgenstein estate copyright ran out. It was also clear that prior to losing part of his right arm in WW1 he had become a clumsy and arrogant pianist after a promising early few years who tried the patience of many a great conductor. Strictly a concertante in variation form, Diversions is extremely original work which caught the attention of Stravinsky with admiration. It has various jokes in it, including a quotation from a Hindemith piece which I like to think was Britten's way of showing fellow feeling with the senior composer. Britten worked with Julius Katchen on it and they made a recording for Decca. Ms Akbergnova and the Ukrainian musicians allow the music the air it needs to be contender as a mainstay concert piece. The woodwinds are sublime.
@@chaim1954 NOT AT ALL. I HAVE THE GOOD, REASONABLE SENSE AND GRACE TO DELETE ALL OF MY REMARKS SUGGESTING A CORRECTION IF IT IS MADE, AND THOSE PERTAINING TO THE ISSUE. RESPECTFULLY MILTON MOORE 🤠✌️
I WONDER IF THE IMMORTAL JOHN OGDON EVER PLAYED THIS? IT WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE HAD APPEAL FOR HIM, OR BE "UP HIS ALLEY" IN THE VERNACULAR. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A RECORDING BY OGDON OF THIS. I ASSUME ONLY A HANDFUL OF PIANISTS HAVE EVER COMMITED THIS WORK TO MEMORY. I IMMENSELY ENJOYED MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO THIS WORK. 🌠MILTON MOORE🌠 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
