Reconstructing the image

PETER DICKINSON listens to world première recordings of music by Constant Lambert

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The Andante is a lovely example of the tender lyrical side of Lambert - Easterbrook calls it 'possibly the most beautiful thing he ever wrote' - and there's some characteristic rhythmic ingenuity as well. [listen - track 8, 0:00-0:29].

The epic quality returns in the finale with genuine drama. It's a fine vehicle for the soloist and David Owen Norris makes the most of the solo part throughout. [listen - track 9, 2:32-3:03].

In spite of its early date, all this is recognisably the Lambert who was soon to produce Rio Grande, his masterpiece steeped in Latin-American idioms, as well as the Piano Sonata and the Concerto for Piano and Nine Instruments, which draw more deeply on jazz.

The next most rewarding novelty on this CD is Prize-Fight, Lambert's first ballet, from the same period - brilliantly scored, witty and infectiously enjoyable. A kind of Cockney Petroushka. How incomprehensible that it had to wait some fifty years for a performance and even longer to be danced. The Suite 'Merchant Seamen' comes from a 1940 war-time documentary film-score. This is a reminder of how the major composers of the day contributed to film music with distinction. Lambert functions convincingly in a polished heroic mode.

Finally the ballet score Pomona is a bonus to add to the three novelties on this CD. With this score the precocious Lambert followed up his Diaghilev commission, Romeo and Juliet, with a set of dances largely in restrained neo-classical vein.

The whole release, decently recorded and with excellent notes from Easterbrook, provides ammunition for a revision of the conventional estimate of Lambert. He can now be placed firmly in the main stream of British composers from the 20s to the end of the 40s where he belongs. He's a larger figure as a result and we've gained some attractive music which was completely unknown.

To listen to the aural illustrations in this review, you may need to download RealNetworks' realplayer G2.