BENJAMIN BRITTEN (1913-1976): Piano Concerto in D, Op. 13 (incl. Original version of third movement), Young Apollo for Piano, String Quartet and String Orchestra, Op. 16, Diversions for Piano Left Hand and Orchestra, Op. 21.

Description: Although Britten's bright, brittle and ironic piano concerto of 1938 has a number of recordings now, and even one with its later, 1945, substitution of an Impromptu for the original Recitative and Aria slow movement, it is coupled here with items still rare: the seven-minute Young Apollo of 1939, a commission written in Canada for the CBC and the more substantial Diversions (1940), another commission from the one-armed Paul Wittgenstein. It's 22-minute theme-and-variations form contains material with stylistic links to the concerto and Vaiations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, while generally being of a more sober and serious character than its discmates. Steven Osborne (piano), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; Ilan Volkov.