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Hmm... he certainly looks out of place, sandwiched between Elgar and Tchaikovsky! But then the Proms have a history of odd choices.

Yes, Osmo Vänskä recorded it in the BIS Sibelius series with the LahtiSO.

.. and maybe worth mentioning Holst's The Cloud Messenger.

Much loved in Australia, of course, as Chief Conductor and subsequently Conductor Laureate of the Melbourne SO, and as a champion of Grainger (whom we claim as our own!). Sadly missed.

I certainly share your enthusiasm, John. I have always found this work, like so much of Czerny's music, joyful and uplifting. I have the Koch-Swann version, with the Kölner Klavier Duo.

I too trust your judgement, Gareth. I am sure many people would simply hear that Youtube piece and dismiss him. Clearly, that would be a mistake.

Try this, Colin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCYXr58oFOQ

Oh yes, beautiful. Thanks, Alan. To my ear, hints of Verklärte Nacht!

In the 60s, I got many of my LPs from the Squires Gate Long-Playing Record Library (Blackpool, UK), founded by Penguin Record Guide faithful Ivan March in the 1950s. Later called the Squires Gate Music Centre, with branches across the UK, it was also the source of a host of catalogies and hard-to-find discographies. Yes, LP's arriving by post was fun!

Yes, I agree, Alan. Like an empty chocolate box..... 

As an early student of Arnold Schönberg, do we know if the music falls into UC's remit, Alan? I've never heard her music, nor even of her, so I have no idea myself.

.... I think Major is a truly undeservedly unsung composer.

What evidence do we have to support that view, Gareth?

It sounds like a cross between a barrel-organ and a squeezebox. Truly awful.

That is unfair to barrel-organs and accordions! 

Alan, thank you so much for drawing attention to this wonderful release, and for explaining the background. For one reason or another, there is still a lot of VW's music that has never been recorded, and it's heartening to see something new being issued. Martin Yates is a champion!

The coupling with Faure would mean doubling or tripling-up, but fortunately for me the CPO version of Enescu's 1st and 2nd piano quartets are up on YT! Not wanting to re-visit the issue again, but I am still baffled by this.

I love the music of Tcherepnin, especially the piano works, so thanks for that, Alan. Definitely worth investigating.