Artwork: N.Plaha, A.Singh

Piano

Richard Uttley
The young virtuoso in his debut album of contemporary classics. A must for any piano lover.

Cat. Number: 020011009 Year of issue: 2007
Duration: 65:57 No. of tracks: 13
Recording date: 29th of August, 2nd & 3rd of September 2007 Recorded at: The Weston Auditorium, Hatfield

Overview

At the launch party of UHRecordings in November 2005 it was announced that the Company had taken up the opportunity to offer a first recording to the winner of the British Contemporary Piano Competition which had just concluded. That winner was Richard Uttley and this is that debut album. Rick was just 20 at the time at the time of the recording and the exuberance of youth is immediately felt in the opening track. Chris Willis’ Burning Up is a helter-skelter depiction of clubland dance music; exhilarating and exciting, the piece captures the scene exquisitely.

Press quote

"clear evidence of a first-class technique and a probing and discerning mind"

"This disc has been very professionally produced and recorded by University of Hertfordshire Recordings. It's a fascinating release with which I cannot find fault."

Independent Record Review Magazine, April 2008

"Richard Uttley has put together an enjoyable programme of British music for his first solo recording"

"the Uttley performance stands up well alongside it [Stephen Osborne's definitive set of the Tippet Second Sonata], relishing the extreme contrasts and giving maximum weight to big moments like the keyboard rattling glissandi. Such effects also confirm the superior quality of the University of Hertfordshire recording." 

Gramophone Magazine, June 2008

"Contemporary piano music has some fine young interpreters right now; Richard Uttley is a name to add to the distinguished litany."

BBC Music Magazine, May 2009

Track Listing:

Track Title Duration Composer
1 Burning Up 5:15 Chris Willis
2 Sonata No. 2 13:01 Michael Tippett
3 Ballade 7:56 Robin Holloway
4 Nocturne 9:45 Robin Holloway
5 Five Studies 1 2:32 Colin Matthews
6 Five Studies 2 1:59 Colin Matthews
7 Five Studies 3 3:03 Colin Matthews
8 Five Studies 4 1:51 Colin Matthews
9 Five Studies 5 3:57 Colin Matthews
10 Variations on a Theme by William Byrd 7:44 Timothy Jackson
11 The Cone Gatherers - Part 1 4:55 Graham Fitkin
12 The Cone Gatherers - Part 2 1:57 Graham Fitkin
13 The Cone Gatherers - Part 3 2:02 Graham Fitkin

Album Contributors:

Executive Producer - Howard Burrell
Producer - Michael Woolcock
Chief Engineer - Daniel Halford
Engineer - Will Taitt
Design - Tony McDermott
Artwork - Nisha Plaha and Amendeep Singh
Administration - UHArts