Information
Composer: Arnold Cooke; Havergal Brian
- Brian - Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia tragica"
- Brian - Symphony No. 16
- Cooke - Symphony No. 3 in D major
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Myer Fredman, conductor (Brian)
Nicholas Braithwaite, conductor (Cooke)
Date: 2008
Label: Lyrita
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A long overdue reissue of three appealing post-war British symphonies
Havergal Brian’s Sixth and Sixteenth Symphonies were recorded in April 1973 (issued on LP two years later), part of a set of performances including BBC broadcasts (along with No 24 and Ave atque vale, both still unrecorded). The Sixth (1948), incorporating material from an abandoned opera on Synge’s Deirdre of the Sorrows, is highly illustrative with atmospheric orchestration, a gorgeous, full-blooded romantic melody in the slow central section and a dramatic finale. Completely convincing symphonically, it plays continuously in an effective three-in-one design.
A marvellous example of Brian’s late polyphony, the Sixteenth (1960) is the finest of a group of five single-movement symphonies that signalled the start of his final compositional phase (1959-68), in which he completed no fewer than 20 symphonies. It too has its dramatic and evocative aspects, possibly derived from his reading of Herodotus while composing the work. But it is as absolute music that the work succeeds brilliantly. These performances, directed by Myer Fredman, still sound excellent.
It is a shame that No 24 was not available to complete an all-Brian disc, but the inclusion of Arnold Cooke’s Third (1967) will not disappoint. Certainly, there are stylistic differences; not for nothing was Cooke described (or derided?) as the “English Hindemith”, but the influence of his German teacher never hampered his expressive mission. The Third’s outer movements are brisk and vigorous but its heart is the central Lento, which opens like a missing interlude from Mathis der Maler. Another first-class performance, too. Full marks to Lyrita for its remastering, especially in dealing with Brian’s singular orchestral soundscapes; yet listen to the passage in No 16 starting at 8'03" to hear how alluring and delicate they could be. Strongly recommended.
-- Guy Rickards, GramophoneGramophone
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Arnold Cooke (4 November 1906 – 13 August 2005) was a British composer. As a composer Cooke was highly productive but tended to work in traditional genres. He composed six symphonies, several concertos, copious chamber music including a clarinet quintet and five string quartets, many instrumental sonatas, and some important vocal music. Throughout his career, his music seems to show the influence of Hindemith, leavened with a more English sense of lyricism. Two of his symphonies and other orchestral works were recorded by Lyrita, whilst the Clarinet Quintet and Concerto were recorded by Hyperion.
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Havergal Brian (29 January 1876 – 28 November 1972) was a British classical composer. Brian was extremely prolific, his body of work including thirty two symphonies, many of them extremely long and ambitious works for massive orchestral forces. Brian enjoyed a period of significant popularity earlier in his career and rediscovery in the 1950s, though his music fell out of favour and since the 1970s he is vary rarely studied and performed. Today, he is often remembered for his First Symphony which calls for the largest orchestral force demanded by any conventionally structured concert work.
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Myer Fredman (29 January 1932 – 4 July 2014) was a British-Australian conductor. He studied at Dartington Hall and in London with Peter Gellhorn, Vilém Tauský, Adrian Boult, and was assistant to Otto Klemperer, Vittorio Gui, John Pritchard and Charles Mackerras. Fredman was conductor at the Glyndebourne Festival 1963–74. After moving to Australia, he became musical director of the State Opera of South Australia 1974–80, and conductor and artistic associate with Opera Australia 1983–98. Fredman conducted the premieres of many Havergal Brian symphonies, and was a Vice-President of the Havergal Brian Society.
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Nicholas Braithwaite (born 26 August 1939, London) is an English conductor. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music, at the Festival masterclasses in Bayreuth, and with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna. Braithwaite is probably best known to audiences for leading performances of more than 70 operas at various world venues. Although only held the post in minor orchestras, he has made recordings with world-renowned such as the London Philharmonic, London Symphony and the Philharmonia. Braithwaite has also served as the Dean of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts from 1988 to 1991.
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