Watkins: Chamber Music & Works for String Orchestra

Widely recognised as the leading Welsh

composer of his generation, Huw Watkins

is an increasingly prolific writer of works

for chamber ensembles, alongside his

distinguished career as a pianist. Composed

between 2009 and 2022, the five works

featured on this disc take the listener on a

fascinating journey through Watkins's recent

musical evolution. The acclaimed Leonore Piano

Trio begin with the earliest of these works - the

2009 Piano Trio No. 1 - whilst conductor

George Vass's Orchestra Nova brings us the

Little Symphony for strings and exquisite

Concertino for violin and strings, performed

here by trio violinist Benjamin Nabarro.

The trio is joined by violist Rachel Roberts

for Watkins' luminous Piano Quartet,

while the programme concludes with

the 2022 Piano Trio No. 2 - written for

the fortieth anniversary of the Presteigne

Festival and premiered there by

the Leonore Piano Trio.