Jon Lord: Concerto for Group and Orchestra

Jon Lord (1941-2012), a co-founder and organist for the hard rock band Deep Purple who was also trained in classical music, composed Concerto for Group and Orchestra, which was initially performed in 1969 by Deep Purple and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of distinguished composer Malcolm Arnold. Unfortunately, the score was later lost—until Dutch composer Marco de Goeij painstakingly reconstructed it from the LP recording made at the time of the premiere. Lord helped refine the result, and the concerto reappeared in its full glory as part of Deep Purple's 30th anniversary performances in 1999. Presented here in a 2012 recording, the concerto follows the traditional three-movement form (also displaying the influence of various standard concert-hall pieces) while allowing for riffs and turns that are characteristic of rock and blues. A substantial, musically serious piece, this performance by Lord and handpicked soloists—accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Paul Mann—must be considered the definitive rendition. Presented in DTS-HD stereo, Blu-ray extras include a “making-of” documentary, interviews with Mann and de Goeij, and a rehearsal featurette. Packaged with a bonus audio CD, this is sure to appeal to Deep Purple fans, but will also be appreciated by a broader classical audience. Recommended. (F. Swietek)