New album offers tribute to memory of Bramwell Tovey

Visions of St Anne, a new album from pianist, organist and composer Roderick Elms offers a tribute in memory of former principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra Bramwell Tovey. The album, made up of premieres of Elms’s works, presents the premiere of his Visions of St Anne symphony, dedicated to Tovey and performed by the late conductor’s own BBC Concert Orchestra.

Born in Ilford in 1953 and having originally trained as a tuba player, Tovey’s conducting career saw him hold roles including music director of the Vancouver and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras and the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra before being appointed as principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra in 2018. As well as holding regular visiting conductor positions with major orchestras around the world he was also a successful composer, winning both a Grammy and a Juno for his work.

Elms said: ‘I grew up with Bram in the London Borough of Redbridge in a golden period back in the late 60s/70s. He was a very close friend and Best Man at my wedding. He conducted concerto performances for me both in London and Canada. It was Bram who encouraged me to complete my symphony during the lockdowns of 2020 and was due to conduct for this recording. Sadly, that wasn't to be, but it was wonderful that our mutual friend, and conductor laureate of the BBC Concert orchestra, Barry Wordsworth, was so willing to step in.’

Alongside Wordsworth, the album, which was recorded for Signum Classics, features soloists Carlos Bonell (guitar), who performs Elms’s Cantilena for guitar and orchestra and bass clarinettist Derek Hannigan, who plays De Profundis, a new bass-clarinet concertino. To record Paper Dances, a piece for piano duet and orchestra, Elms is joined by his wife, pianist Joanna Smith.

A memorial concert for Bramwell Tovey will be presented by Redbridge Youth Orchestra Veterans and friends of Tovey at Ilford County High School on 6 April with all proceeds donated to Sarcoma UK.