Martyn Brabbins: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - Lamond: Symphony in A major

Hyperion�s Record of the Month for March takes us to Scotland in pursuit of two Scottish-born piano virtuosi whose compositions have languished beneath the highland mists for too long. Born prematurely as a result of a steamboat collision on the Clyde, Frederic Lamond lived a short walk from Eugen d�Albert in Glasgow. The two became Liszt pupils and their musical abilities were admired by Richard Strauss, Hans von Bulow and Johannes Brahms.Lamond�s Symphony in A major, his only symphony, was begun in 1885 � the composer was just twenty-one � and published in 1893. In four movements, a sense of generous assurance flows through this work which sits comfortably between Beethoven, looking backward, and Mahler in the future. Perhaps one should think of Brahms, yet Lamond adds a refreshing breath of Scottish air into an otherwise-Germanic climate.The Overture from the Scottish Highlands tells the story of one Quentin Durward, a stalwart of Louis XI�s Scottish bodyguard. His Burgundian adventures betray a sense of homesickness; Scottish themes and droned bass lines prevail. Sword Dance, taken from Lamond�s opera A life in the Scottish Highlands, presents a scene of bucolic exuberance, fancy footwork and Scotch-snap rhythms combining in a work of irresistible panache.The disc opens with Eugen d�Albert�s Overture to Esther. The Biblical Esther had little time for honour, or even religion come to that, and d�Albert�s overture similarly throw caution to the wind, before eventually she, and he, are won back to the arms of King Ahasuerus.