This seems to be an age of completions. If a composer was unfortunate enough to die without finishing a piece some zealot will do it for him. It can be worthwhile, as with Elgar’s Third Symphony, and Graham Parlett has carried out another dedicated task with what Bax called a Concertino for piano and orchestra. In fact the work lasts half an hour and even though Bax described it as “a small concerto” for Harriet Cohen it’s a substantial work that accumulates some massive climaxes. Bax left it unfinished in 1939 because he was disillusioned about the war. Parlett had to decide most of the scoring and sometimes fill out the thin textures. There are beefy piano chords in the first movement and at times the writing sounds turgid. But there are many characteristic touches and the finale is insistently ebullient. Anyone interested in Bax will be fascinated.

The Ireland Concerto is inescapably associated with Eric Parkin, whose first recording was with Boult and the LSO in 1968. Surprisingly Bebbington takes a minute longer than Parkin for every movement in the Concerto as well as the eloquent Legend. There’s little impression of Bebbington dragging, although Boult cunningly moved things along from time to time. The rapt piano solos, such as the soloist’s entry in the slow movement, have the same mesmeric quality in both performances. This is vintage Ireland with a real melodic gift and harmonic textures that could come from no other composer.

The old Lyrita LP transferred well but Bebbington’s more modern sound is an asset. So is his total sympathy with the music, well supported by the Orchestra of the Swan. Ireland enthusiasts will rejoice.