Hess - Piano Concerto

A touching tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, commissioned by The Prince of Wales.

The Concerto for Piano and Orchestra by Nigel Hess was first performed in 2007. It was commissioned by HRH The Prince of Wales in memory of his grandmother who died in March 2002 at the age of 101.

The three movements capture key characteristics of the late Queen Mother, subtitled The Smile, The Love and The Duty. It is an unashamedly romantic work with touches of Chopin, Rachmaninov and Holst, and all of the sweeping melody you would expect from Hess, composer of such popular film themes as Ladies in Lavender.

The Classical BRIT Award-nominated concerto was first performed by Lang Lang, who also recorded the work, in July 2007, at a concert at The Church of St James the Great, Castle Acre, Norfolk, organised by the charity Music in Country Churches.