Bliss’s Piano Concerto, commissioned by the British Council for the 1939 New York World’s Fair, was described by the composer in his own programme note ‘…to be played by Solomon and dedicated to the people of the U.S. so obviously it had to be a concerto in the grand manner and what is loosely called “romantic”.’This is indeed a big-boned, energetic work with a relentless driving force, but there is also room for quieter, more personal emotions conveyed in a rich vein of lyricism. The 1952 Piano Sonata has a similar romantic and heroic mood, with much bravura writing. The Concerto for Two Pianos began life as the experimental Concerto for piano, tenor and strings of 1921, which is now lost. Realising that this unusual combination would be a hindrance to further performances, yet being fond of the work, Bliss eventually settled on a version for full orchestra, completed in 1950.