04. - 13. Benjamin Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op.10 [27'43]
14. Ralph Vaughan-Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis [15'11]
15. Michael Tippett - Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli [19'13]
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Charles Groves
CDRPO5005 (recorded September 1989; CD issued 1990)
(flac and scans)
Recording venue: St Barnabas Church, Mitcham, Surrey
Recording engineer and Producer: Brian Culverhouse
Before the Royal Philharmonic set up a "genuine" own label with Tring, a number of releases appeared in a RPO series from Pickwick/IMP. This one is of English music for strings with a doyen of English conductors, Charles Groves, first issued when he was 75.
The strings of the RPO play with much warmth and virtuosity under Grove's inspired leadership in this collection of popular 20th century classics. Although Michael Tippett's wonderful Corelli Fantasia doesn't seem to get many plays nowadays. Excellent recording from Brian Culverhouse, once head of EMI's Classics for Pleasure label.
For those interested, Vaughan Williams used one of Tallis' tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter for his Fantasia and Tippett used the Adagio in F minor from Corelli's Concerto Grosso, op.6 no.2. for his.