Credits:

James Geer

Description:

This album features music for two pianos and art songs with piano accompaniment that symbolize the 30-year friendship and professional partnership between the 20th-century British composers Walton and Lambert. Among Waltons works, the famous Faade features a recitation of poems by the poet Sitwell set to music; here, the suite for two pianos, arranged by Lambert, is performed by the distinguished British pianists West and Woodley. Constant Lambert was discovered by Diaghilev of the Ballets Russes and commissioned to choreograph *Romeo and Juliet*; he was also active as one of the founders of the Vic Ballet. Among the tracks on this album is Songs after Li Bai. Tang Dynasty poetry was popular in Europe from the 19th century through the early 20th century, and this work by Lambert is a delicate song set to the English translation of Li Bais poetry by the Japanese diplomat Kaoru Obata. The songs are