Deryk Barker wrote:

>Pamela McElwain-Brown ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
>
>>...  The WC theme seems more to me like ersatz Rachy; yet as a child
>>I was enchanted, and even now, though I acknowledge the entire piece is
>>over-written and showy and that's probably why it has not endured in
>>terms of public interest, it still holds a special magic.:-)
>
>It was actually intended as a Rachmaninov pastiche.  There was thought
>of using R2 at one point, but for some reason (copyright?) it was dropped
>and Addinsell commissioned to write WC.

Some other snippets:

1.  The Warsaw Concerto had no name until the manager of the cinema at
which Dangerous Moonlight was playing had so many requests as to "what
is that wonderful music called?" he made up the name off the top of his
head.

2.  The record which made it famous was rushed out to the extent that a
to-be-discarded proof was mistakenly used as the master.  (Complete with
wow and flutter).

3.  Louis Kentner was the pianist, and recorded the Concerto on condition
that he was not identified in any way.

Alastair