Pianist Mark Bebbington and Principals of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform a trio of English romantic gems.

Piano quintets by the two greatest British composers are presented together: Vaughan Williams’ early, rare foray into chamber music (evoking his ravishing song Silent Noon) alongside a late flowering of Elgar’s creative genius – one of the great chamber works of the 20th century.

John Ireland’s beautiful Phantasie Trio, full of drama and melody, sets the scene.

The 2022 recording of the Vaughan Williams Quintet by these players received outstanding reviews:

‘impassioned, tender and melodious… speaks directly to the listener in romantic terms, beautifully crafted and wholly engaging, performed splendidly’ (Colin’s Column)

‘Bebbington in particular embraces the rhapsodic turbulence of the music, pushing it to fever pitch in places… eminently worth investigating’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘the big-boned opening Allegro is properly con fuoco as marked, yet there’s lyrical warmth and rapt poetry aplenty… unmissable’ (Gramophone)