Stephen Osborne was the soloist for Tippett’s Piano Concerto at the Barbican Hall on 22 March. Live performances are even rarer than the symphonies, so it was doubly welcome, given such enthusiastic playing. The work comes just after The Midsummer Marriage and the openign movement inhabits the same world, with warmth and florid lyricism. The large woodwind choruses evoke nature and the spiritual influences the composer finds there. The light, tremulous writing recreates the world of Mark and Jennifer.

It would be easy to relax into this warm bath and simply indulge, but the two following movements take off in a different direction. The molto lento is more complex and estranged with blocks of sound confronting the solo piano, even though the movement has a placid ending. The final vivace brings us some exciting string writing and a dancelike quality that mirrors the Ritual Dances without quoting from them.

Steven Osborne obviously enjoyed the solo part, which, even if over-written in places, has more than enough to engage an enthusiast.

Prior to this we heard John Adams’ The Chairman Dances – an off-shoot of Nixon in China –  and none the less acceptable for that. It has a whimsical feel to is, with some splendidly lush string writing at its heart.

The second half was given over to Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony, a somewhat strange choice given the geniality of the first half but none the less engaging.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra under Alexander Vedernikov pleased throughout, with the woodwind on this occasion making the most of their chances. BH