How marvellous it is after all these years to be able to welcome a truly first-rate modern recording of Bax’s Nonet. What a bewitching creation it is, overflowing with beguiling invention and breathtakingly imaginative in its instrumental resource (the sounds created are often almost orchestral). Bax worked on the Nonet (which began life as a violin sonata) at the same time (1929-30) as he was composing his Third Symphony and, as Lewis Foreman observes in his exemplary booklet-note, there are striking similarities between the two works: compare, for example, the rhythmic pungency of the opening of the Nonet’s second movement with the first half of the symphony’s finale. The Nash Ensemble (under the direction of Ian Brown) give a masterly, infinitely subtle reading – a worthy successor to the classic 1937 recording with the Griller Quartet and distinguished colleagues (now beautifully refurbished by Dutton Laboratories).
The remainder of the disc brings comparable pleasure. The delightful Oboe Quintet (written for Leon Goossens in 1922) receives immensely characterful treatment, especially the jaunty, Irish-jig finale (such sparkling, richly communicative playing!). The same is true of the lovely Harp Quintet, which is essayed here with a rapt intensity and delicious poise to outshine a rival Chandos offering with the English Quartet (the excellent harpist, Skaila Kanga, is common to both performances). In the hands of these stylish artists, the Elegiac Trio possesses a delicacy and gentle poignancy that are really quite captivating; indeed, the present account came as something of a revelation to this writer (until now I had never rated this piece very highly in the Bax chamber music canon).
That just leaves the engaging Clarinet Sonata, a work that has fared well in the recording studio over the last few years. Suffice to report, Michael Collins and Ian Brown are compelling advocates, and theirs is a performance to set beside (if not supersede) those of Emma Johnson and Malcolm Martineau and Janet Hilton and Keith Swallow.
Beautiful sound and expert balance throughout. This treasurable Hyperion release will certainly figure in my “Critics’ choice” at the end of the year.'