The British pianist Clare Hammond (b.1985)presents with her latest BIS album a richly filled program of three British piano concertos from the twentieth century, accompanied by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of George Vass. Hammond deliberately chooses the road less traveled and demonstrates both her virtuosity and intellectual finesse in works by William Walton (1902–1983), Benjamin Britten (1913–1976) and Michael Tippett (1905–1998).
Walton between bravura and refinement
Walton Sinfonia Concertante (1943) – originally conceived as ballet music – is lively and playful, full of stylistic quotations from contemporaries such as Stravinsky and Poulenc, yet unmistakably Walton throughout. Hammond emphasizes the dialogue between piano and orchestra rather than a struggle between soloist and ensemble, with elegant lightness of touch in the fast movement and a warm lyrical quality in the slow central section. Conductor Vass keeps the sound world airy and transparent, allowing Walton's witty humor to shine without losing dramatic impact.
Britten composed his Diversions (1940) for one-armed pianist Paul Wittgenstein. Hammond realizes the eleven variations as miniatures, each with its own character: playful, melancholic, sometimes bitingly ironic. Her deep knowledge of this score – she wrote her doctorate on it – is evident in her inspired interpretation. The "Nocturne" radiates a fragile poetry, while the virtuosic passages never lose their light touch. Here we hear perfect understanding between soloist and orchestra, with Vass as an engaged accompanist.
Tippett's Piano Concerto (1955) ranks among his most convincing works. Hammond instinctively grasps how the dramatic arcs should unfold: her sound is monumental without heaviness, and the climactic moments land all the more powerfully. In the central Molto lento e tranquillo, pianist and orchestra navigate a labyrinth of sound and color with clarity and without falling into obscurity. In the finale, the work bursts open into a dancing vitality where musical fireworks sparkle throughout. Vass keeps the sometimes dense orchestration light, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra gives itself over completely.
More than virtuosity: Clare Hammond as musical explorer
Hammond is known as one of the most curious and versatile pianists of her generation. She combines crystalline technique and transparent touch with genuine musical inquisitiveness. Albums such as Études(2014), which pairs classics with new etudes, her inventive Josef Mysliveček: Complete Keyboard Music and the introspective Ghosts & Whispers (2021) are proof of this. Hammond is not only a virtuoso soloist but also an inspiring chamber musician and champion of contemporary music.
Her international recognition – such as her award of the Young Artist Award from the Royal Philharmonic Society – stems from her original vision, her refined choices, and her courage to explore unfamiliar territory. This recording is a prime example: Hammond reassesses forgotten masterworks in an independent and searching manner.
"Conclusion: Highly Recommended"
British Piano Concertos: Walton, Britten & Tippett is a recording that captivates equally through its program and through its expressive and refined execution. Hammond makes these often complex scores sound as though they unfold naturally: intelligent, emotional, and always in dialogue with the orchestra. For anyone seeking to expand their repertoire and discover the richness of British modernism, Hammond's recording is highly recommended.
An excellent case for the British piano concerto, with Clare Hammond as a compelling ambassador.
