Havergal Brian.

[vandermolen]

How old was he! Then I noticed how close d and e on keyboard.

Haha 

[calyptorhynchus]

For some reason this reminds me of a sketch in the Glums:
Doctor (heavy German accent for some reason): "Vell, if you excuse me I have to go and see how old Lady Gladstone is."
Ron: "Don't you know how old she is?"

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

 

[Irons]

For some reason this reminds me of a sketch in the Glums:
Doctor (heavy German accent for some reason): "Vell, if you excuse me I have to go and see how old Lady Gladstone is."
Ron: "Don't you know how old she is?"

Oh Ron, oh Eth.

[calyptorhynchus]

News from the HB Society.

Testament are soon releasing the BBC recordings of Myer Fredman conducting the Symphonies 9, 22 and 24. I'm so pleased about this as Fredman was such a good Brian conductor (such a great conductor overall) and these are great recordings. Pity he didn't record 23.

The newsletter reprints an interview with Fredman from 1997 in which he talks about HB. The gem it got from it was that HB was a dead ringer for Bruckner (though I think Bruckner was actually quite a bit taller).

In other news the DVD of the Brisbane Gothic available. As I am in Australia already I'll be getting it directly from https://www.4mbs.com.au/products/, though you can also get it from the Society. I had heard it was available as a USB and I am enquiring from 4MBS whether this is the case.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

All correct, save one thing: that Myer Fredman  disc will also contain the Eighth Symphony... Looking forward to hearing all four symphonies in pristine sound!

[calyptorhynchus]

All correct, save one thing: that Myer Fredman  disc will also contain the Eighth Symphony... Looking forward to hearing all four symphonies in pristine sound!

[vandermolen]

All correct, save one thing: that Myer Fredman  disc will also contain the Eighth Symphony... Looking forward to hearing all four symphonies in pristine sound!

Great news! No.8 is a marvellous work. I think very highly of Fredman's Bax recordings as well.

[krummholz]

+1.

The newsletter also contains a long discussion of Brian's Faust, another Brian work I've never heard but that sounds fascinating. (Yes, I know it's been released on CD... I'm very much behind in getting out my CD orders.)

[Maestro267]

Today (November 28) marks 50 years since Havergal Brian's death.

[Albion]

+1.

The newsletter also contains a long discussion of Brian's Faust, another Brian work I've never heard but that sounds fascinating. (Yes, I know it's been released on CD... I'm very much behind in getting out my CD orders.)

The Dutton recording of "Faust" is quite glorious with the (currently threatened) forces of ENO under Brabbins, and vindicates Brian's determination to persevere with opera. I've been working on cleaning up an off-air BBC broadcast of "Agamemnon" (1957)...

https://www.mediafire.com/file/32jwzsmnswmsx75/Brian_-_Agamemnon_%25281957%2529.mp3/file

[Papy Oli]

As mentioned further up, release on the 24th Jan:

[vandermolen]

As mentioned further up, release on the 24th Jan:

V exciting!

[Albion]

As mentioned further up, release on the 24th Jan:

What a fantastic prospect! Fredman really "got" Brian in a way that has eluded many other conductors (e.g. the truly dismal Naxos No.2 with Tony Rowe) and his Lyrita 6th and 16th are real treasures. Now that all of the symphonies are available in good to excellent recordings it's wonderful to see these alternative broadcast performances appearing commercially and adding to the discography. Heritage are a great label...

[vandermolen]

What a fantastic prospect! Fredman really "got" Brian in a way that has eluded many other conductors (e.g. the truly dismal Naxos No.2 with Tony Rowe) and his Lyrita 6th and 16th are real treasures. Now that all of the symphonies are available in good to excellent recordings it's wonderful to see these alternative broadcast performances appearing commercially and adding to the discography. Heritage are a great label...

I love Fredman's Bax recordings on Lyrita. I rather liked that Tony Rowe HB CD but I had nothing to compare it with.

[Roasted Swan]

What a fantastic prospect! Fredman really "got" Brian in a way that has eluded many other conductors (e.g. the truly dismal Naxos No.2 with Tony Rowe) and his Lyrita 6th and 16th are real treasures. Now that all of the symphonies are available in good to excellent recordings it's wonderful to see these alternative broadcast performances appearing commercially and adding to the discography. Heritage are a great label...

These are the same performances that have been available on Klassichaus for some years.  No idea how the transfers compare.

http://klassichaus.us/Brian%3A-Symphonies-Nos--18-19-22.php

I've always been happy with these transfers as alternative versions in my collection.....

[Papy Oli]

What a fantastic prospect! Fredman really "got" Brian in a way that has eluded many other conductors (e.g. the truly dismal Naxos No.2 with Tony Rowe) and his Lyrita 6th and 16th are real treasures. Now that all of the symphonies are available in good to excellent recordings it's wonderful to see these alternative broadcast performances appearing commercially and adding to the discography. Heritage are a great label...

I posted this new release without realising it was the same conductor as the 6th & 16th, the only Brian CD I own and that I enjoyed (I tried a few of the Naxos releases but I never got much out of them). Thank you for mentioning it. Guess I'll have to check this new release too.

Are there any other Brian symphonies that Fredman has conducted?

[Albion]

I posted this new release without realising it was the same conductor as the 6th & 16th, the only Brian CD I own and that I enjoyed (I tried a few of the Naxos releases but I never got much out of them). Thank you for mentioning it. Guess I'll have to check this new release too.

Are there any other Brian symphonies that Fredman has conducted?

He conducted 29 and 32 for broadcast on 12th March 1979...

[Albion]

I love Fredman's Bax recordings on Lyrita. I rather liked that Tony Rowe HB CD but I had nothing to compare it with.

Nope, either Mackerras (BBC) or Brabbins (Dutton) are infinitely better. No.2 was the low point of the Marco Polo series and destined for the charity shop...

[Papy Oli]

He conducted 29 and 32 for broadcast on 12th March 1979...

Thank you Albion.