William Alwyn

[SymphonicAddict]

Odd Man Out takes me to a state of important thrill. How terrific this work is! Some of the most aflame French horn writing is found in here. The music is rather touching, impressive. Along with Lyra Angelica, my favorite work by this gentleman.

[vandermolen]

Odd Man Out takes me to a state of important thrill. How terrific this work is! Some of the most aflame French horn writing is found in here. The music is rather touching, impressive. Along with Lyra Angelica, my favorite work by this gentleman.

Delighted that you like this Cesar!
I consider 'Odd Man Out' to be one of Alwyn's finest works, alongside the unaccountably neglected Violin Concerto, 'The Magic Island' (after Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'), Lyra Angelica and all the symphonies, but especially nos 1 and 2. The Prelude to Odd Man Out - a kind of doomed processional which always appeals to me - is reminiscent of 'The Road to Calvary' from Miklos Rozsa's wonderful score for 'Ben-Hur'.

[Roasted Swan]

I like all the Alwyn Symphonies but especially No.3 which is powerfully coupled on Chandos with the Violin Concerto.  Both very impressive works.....

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marketplace copies on Amazon UK are very cheap at the moment I see.

[vandermolen]

I like all the Alwyn Symphonies but especially No.3 which is powerfully coupled on Chandos with the Violin Concerto.  Both very impressive works.....

[asin]B001MV91BK[/asin]

marketplace copies on Amazon UK are very cheap at the moment I see.

That is a great CD which introduced me to the lovely VC. John Ireland thought that Alwyn's 3rd Symphony was the best British symphony since Elgar. I don't agree as it leaves out Bax, VW and Walton (not to mention Moeran) but it is still a fine symphony.

[Maestro267]

A rare performance of Alwyn's opera Miss Julie is taking place this evening at London's Barbican Hall. From photos I've seen on Twitter it looks like it's a semi-staged performance, but it's still significant. Even more significant and perhaps more relevant for this thread is that it will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 this Saturday evening.

[André]

I still haven't opened that Lyrita set of Miss Julie  . I'm slowly catching up on my opera backlog though, so hopefully I will get to hear it before year end 

[SymphonicAddict]

On these days I've listened to all the releases of his film music on Chandos. This gentleman wrote some truly inspired and inspiring scores! Later I'll post further comments about them. I heartily recommend them to any fan of this composer.

[vandermolen]

On these days I've listened to all the releases of his film music on Chandos. This gentleman wrote some truly inspired and inspiring scores! Later I'll post further comments about them. I heartily recommend them to any fan of this composer.

Other that 'Odd Man Out' which are your favourites Cesar? I have volumes 1 and 2 but not 3.

[SymphonicAddict]

Other that 'Odd Man Out' which are your favourites Cesar? I have volumes 1 and 2 but not 3.

According to my notes, these have been of great enjoyment for me (either suites or extracts from the whole scores):

They Flew Alone
Desert Victory
On Approval
Calypso from 'The Rake's Progress'
The Fallen Idol
The History of Mr. Polly
The Crimson Pirate
The Master of Ballantrae
Geordie
The Black Tent
Swiss Family Robinson
In Search of the Castaways
The Running Man

These ones were not as good as the previous ones:

Shake Hands with the Devil
The Winslow Boy
State Secret
The Magic Box
Manchester Suite
Penn of Pennsylvania

And there are 4 volumes of his film music on Chandos, I think all of them are more than good.

[vandermolen]

According to my notes, these have been of great enjoyment for me (either suites or extracts from the whole scores):

They Flew Alone
Desert Victory
On Approval
Calypso from 'The Rake's Progress'
The Fallen Idol
The History of Mr. Polly
The Crimson Pirate
The Master of Ballantrae
Geordie
The Black Tent
Swiss Family Robinson
In Search of the Castaways
The Running Man

These ones were not as good as the previous ones:

Shake Hands with the Devil
The Winslow Boy
State Secret
The Magic Box
Manchester Suite
Penn of Pennsylvania

And there are 4 volumes of his film music on Chandos, I think all of them are more than good.

Thanks very much Cesar. I certainly remember enjoying 'Desert Victory'.

[kyjo]

A rare performance of Alwyn's opera Miss Julie is taking place this evening at London's Barbican Hall. From photos I've seen on Twitter it looks like it's a semi-staged performance, but it's still significant. Even more significant and perhaps more relevant for this thread is that it will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 this Saturday evening.

Great to know! Miss Julie is a fantastic opera, intensely lyrical and dramatic. I've seen it described as 'neo-Puccinian', a quite apt descriptor.

[Christo]

Great to know! Miss Julie is a fantastic opera, intensely lyrical and dramatic. I've seen it described as 'neo-Puccinian', a quite apt descriptor.

Didn't know one could get 'sweet sugar'. 

[kyjo]

Didn't know one could get 'sweet sugar'. 

Huh?

[Christo]

Huh? *]

*] i.e. sweetened Puccini - I was thinking of the even sweeter Zuccherini - but I don't think Alwyn was capable of such a thing, being the fine composer that he always was.

[kyjo]

*] i.e. sweetened Puccini - I was thinking of the even sweeter Zuccherini - but I don't think Alwyn was capable of such a thing, being the fine composer that he always was.

By "neo-Puccinian" I merely meant that the music resembles an "updated" version of Puccini's dramatic lyricism. Alwyn, of course, has a compelling individual voice with recognizably 20th century harmonies marred to a Romantic concept of drama and emotion. Nothing "over-sweet" about it!

[Papy Oli]

A new Lyrita release in March :

[asin]B082JQ3D5D[/asin]

[vandermolen]

A new Lyrita release in March :

[asin]B082JQ3D5D[/asin]

Excellent!
Thanks for letting us know Olivier.

[Symphonic Addict]

Thanks Olivier for this. Only string quartets 4 and 5 would be missing to have his whole cycle recorded.

[Klaatu]

Just discovered on YouTube, this fine live performance of Alwyn's stunningly beautiful "Lyra Angelica":

https://youtu.be/3WI1bzaP_Ys

[Klaatu]

......and this live performance of Alwyn's other beautiful harp composition, the solo piece "Crepuscule". (In the composer's words, "The evocation of a frosty winter night".)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WOgiKHhNxog