British Composers: Your Favorite Recordings

Grazioso · April 13, 2011, 04:15:18 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on April 12, 2011, 12:07:40 PM
Greatly admire an interesting Lyrita CD with First Symphonies of John Joubert (b 1927) and William Mathias (1934-1992). The Joubert curiously was released as a 'single' previously by Lyrita, but the coupling is inspired. Both symphonies are darkly eloquent and gripped my attention throughout. The Mathias has a beautfully atmospheric slow movement and a great redemptive tune towards the end which I find very moving (sadly he died relatively young) and the Joubert is memorable and powerful. These two composers represent IMHO amongst the best of mid-20th century British music.

A photo of the CD may appear below, or may not as, so far, every attempt of mine to post a CD image using the new system has gone horribly wrong.
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Fwiw, there's an excellent disc from Nimbus of Mathias conducting his first two symphonies. Superb stuff from a grossly underappreciated composer. Be sure to check out his second and third symphonies, which have some magical music in them.

Daverz · April 13, 2011, 12:29:40 PM

A selection:

The last fuzzy one has the Elgar Symphonies conducted by Barbirolli and In the South conducted by Silvestri, all essential.

Most of the EMI issues are duplicated in various boxes. The Sitkovetsky Elgar is also available coupled with a recording of the Cello Concerto that I haven't heard.

The Walton "Collected Works" set has the Previn Symphony No. 1 among other things.

vandermolen · April 15, 2011, 01:24:49 AM

Quote from: Grazioso on April 13, 2011, 04:15:18 AM
Fwiw, there's an excellent disc from Nimbus of Mathias conducting his first two symphonies. Superb stuff from a grossly underappreciated composer. Be sure to check out his second and third symphonies, which have some magical music in them.

Thanks - I have those Mathias symphonies and 'Helios' (thanks to Andre on this forum) and will be re-investigating them having enjoyed his Symphony No 1 so much.

vandermolen · April 15, 2011, 01:30:27 AM

Quote from: Daverz on April 13, 2011, 12:29:40 PM
A selection:

The last fuzzy one has the Elgar Symphonies conducted by Barbirolli and In the South conducted by Silvestri, all essential.

Most of the EMI issues are duplicated in various boxes. The Sitkovetsky Elgar is also available coupled with a recording of the Cello Concerto that I haven't heard.

The Walton "Collected Works" set has the Previn Symphony No. 1 among other things.

We have similar tastes as I have most of these in my collection. Oddly enough, as an admirer of Andre Previn, I have never rated his RCA recording of Walton's 1st Symphony as highly as everyone else - I think that it lacks nervous tension at the start. In this respect I actually prefer his later RPO recording or the versions by Sargent, Thomson and Willam Boughton. The Barbirolli VW Symphony 5 with Bax's 'Tintagel' is my favourite recording of both those great scores and I really like 'Adam Zero' (a comparatively new discovery for me) by Bliss and Arnold's 5th and 6th Symphony. I have come to appreciate No 6 more and more. Those Boult Bax CDs are classics (Symphony No 2 to be performed at the London Proms this year). Bernstein's VW Symphony No 4 is a classic - one of the best and Silvestri did a great Tallis Fantasia on a different CD. Boult's Moeran Symphony is a top choice (although I like the Neville Dilkes version as much). Moeran's Cello Concerto on Lyrita is a very moving CD - the Cello Concerto is performed by Moeran's wife.

Daverz · April 15, 2011, 02:59:11 PM

Quote from: vandermolen on April 15, 2011, 01:30:27 AM
We have similar tastes as I have most of these in my collection. Oddly enough, as an admirer of Andre Previn, I have never rated his RCA recording of Walton's 1st Symphony as highly as everyone else - I think that it lacks nervous tension at the start. In this respect I actually prefer his later RPO recording or the versions by Sargent, Thomson and Willam Boughton.

Listening to the Sargent now. Good, but seems to be lacking the drive of the first Previn. And the Previn swings. The only other recording I have is Ashkenazy.

Quote
I really like 'Adam Zero'

Yeah, a great piece. I also like 'Miracle in the Gorbals' and the full Checkmate ballet.

vandermolen · April 16, 2011, 10:11:19 AM

Quote from: Daverz on April 15, 2011, 02:59:11 PM
Listening to the Sargent now. Good, but seems to be lacking the drive of the first Previn. And the Previn swings. The only other recording I have is Ashkenazy.

Yeah, a great piece. I also like 'Miracle in the Gorbals' and the full Checkmate ballet.

I'll have another listen to the LSO Walton, Previn CD. Bliss is an interesting composer - not 'great' perhaps but one to whose music I constantly return. 'Morning Heroes' does touch greatness I think (the return of the cannon fire in the closing sequence) and I also like the 'Meditations on a Theme by John Blow' ('aimiable but rambling' according to one critic - but I rate it higher). The Oboe Quintet is a wonderful work. EMI are bringing out a Bliss box set in June/July (one of their new 5 CD set re-issues).

I like Ashkenazy's version of Walton Symphony No 1.