Havergal Brian symphonies

Hello, tagalie! I was away, so I see your posts rather late in the day. I love Magnard, so I didn't mind seeing this thread 'derailed'.

You ask about the merits of the Naxos and Hyperion Gothics - well, I think the Hyperion is, overall, far superior. The sound is terrific and Brabbins 'nails' it for, say, 80%. I was there at the concert. It was an unforgettable experience. The CD brings it all back, and in better sound, because the RAH is a terrible venue qua acoustics... As for the Naxos - it has its qualities. It's a studio performance, which has its advantages. I think Lenard scores over Brabbins at two c,limactic moments - the end of the Vivace (3rd movement) and the Judex (5th movement). There is a no-nonsense attitude about Brabbins which doesn't always sit well with the visionary and 'weird' side of Brian's music, I think. So my advice is - buy both!

An excellent review of the Hyperion Gothic is here: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Feb12/Brian_Gothic_C...

I have not heard the Brabbins recording but have the Boult (on Aries LPs and the Testament CDs) as well as the Naxos. Of those two performances the Boult is, as you say, the more satisfying. Now if only the cost of the Boult were more satisfying.

The first professional performance (and only the second) was on October 30, 1966 at the RAH with Boult conducting the BBC Symphony and the cast of hundreds. Brian was in the audience to acknowledge the applause. This is the performance on Testament. There is also a 7 minute interview with Brian on January 1, 1966.

Easy for you to say, Troyen! I just this minute snuck (is that a word?) Roussel's Festin de l'araignee and the Irgen Jensen into the house and you had me going on the Rossini Mose recommendation, checking out available cds and dvds. D'you think I'm made of money?

I know I read somewhere recently someone else raving about the Rossini, saying it's one of the great hidden gems, can't recall where. Oops, I'll shut up before I'm accused of diverting the thread again.

I may have several recordings of the Banquet of Spiders.

It may have been me calling Mose in Egitto a hidden gem. Scimone on Decca is my recording of choice. I ended my Rossini session at the end of last year and started on Donizetti but couldn't resist Elisabetta regina d' Inghilterra about the offspring of Mary, Queen of Scots.

This is not to tempt you further as it is on Opera Rara who not only provide the CDs but a large book on the work, including the performance history, at enormous cost!

Hi Johan, I just tested the link to the Stanley Pope HB 10 download you posted and at least it's now in a pitch corrected C minor rather than the previous bodged up attempt which was in B and three quarters minor as you will remember. Although this is dreadfully slow and lacking momentum the actual playing is tip top quality and well worth a listen. It sort of grows on you. There have been a couple of mentions of the Brian 10 LSSO effort on here. This is now available (as you know Johan) in a rather brilliant vinyl refurbishment much better than the official scrawny sounding CD. The LSSO symphony 22 is also available and this is transformed soundwise from the horrid CBS LP. Here's the links. Click on the sleeves for an audio sample.

http://www.klassichaus.us/Havergal-Brian.php

http://www.klassichaus.us/Brian%3A-Symphony-No--22-Psalm-23-English-Suite-No--5---LSSO.php

I will quote an email I received from a well known reviewer the other day re Symphony 22 on the CBS vinyl refurbishment:

Just listening to the secure toned and clean sounding Symph Brevis - wonderful to hear this work - as if for the first time - impressive in the more intimate moments as in 4:58 as well as in the grand and gaunt moments 7:19 - deeply impressive.

He likes it.