Cellist Jamie Walton offers William Walton’s Concerto with an exceptional bonus: as well as playing the original 1956 version with its original ending as a supplement, he records the 1975 revision. The difference between the two versions is limited to the coda of the finale; but on balance the slightly more extended 1975 version makes a more satisfying conclusion after the strong contrasts of the somewhat idiosyncratic finale’s set of variations with their all-too-brief bursts of allegro.

The concerto was commissioned by Gregor Piatigorsky, who gave the first performance. Much as he liked the work, he always bemoaned the fact that it closed reflectively on a gentle pianissimo. He envisaged a loud ending like the one which Walton wrote for Heifetz in the Violin Concerto of 1938‑39, which would readily prompt an ovation. Many years later in 1975 Walton agreed to do a revision but even then Piatigorsky was disappointed, when after a crescendo in the coda and some emphatic chords, the work again ended quietly.

The elegiac quality in the work very much suits Jamie Walton’s style, with his sweet, smooth cello tone, but he is also capable of powerfully attacking the vigorous writing, as in the central Allegro with its sharp syncopations. Alexander Briger is a most sympathetic accompanist, and though the balance favours the soloist, the clarity of Walton’s often brilliant orchestration is beautifully brought out.

Shostakovich’s First Concerto makes a generous and welcome coupling. Even though Jamie Walton cannot match the sheer power of the inspirer of the work, Mstislav Rostropovich, it is a most compelling performance, very strong rhythmically, with the Philharmonia’s first horn relishing what amounts to a concertante role in the first two movements.

Again Jamie Walton exquisitely brings out the haunting beauty of the main theme in the slow movement, and produces eerily chilling tone when that main theme is recapitulated on high harmonics. In the third movement, an extended cadenza, Walton builds up the argument powerfully, leading into the violence of the finale. A most valuable and enjoyable disc, adding impressively to the series Jamie Walton has recorded for Signum, which already includes Shostakovich’s Second Cello Concerto (1/09).