William Walton - Symphonies (Martyn Brabbins)

Information

Composer: William Walton

• Symphony No. 1 in B flat minor
• Siesta
• Symphony No. 2

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Martyn Brabbins, conductor

Date: 2011

Label: Hyperion

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Review

It is surprising how few recordings there are of William Walton’s two symphonies on the same disc – an omission rectified by this handsomely presented Hyperion release, featuring the famous portrait of the composer by Michael Ayrton on its cover. There is room for a flagship digital recording of the great First Symphony, popular though its recorded history may be – and Martyn Brabbins can justifiably lay claim to having made it. This is an exhilarating performance that fully harnesses the energy of the piece, helped greatly by judicious tempo choices. Brabbins keeps the music pushing forward; not by choosing excessively fast speeds but by pressing on when others might be tempted to slow up. This does not make the music relentless; rather it emphasises its essential rhythmic drive and purpose. Brabbins is supported in his cause by truly excellent playing from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, not least brass and timpani, the former drilled and incisive, the latter adding important depth. The ‘malicious’ scherzo is particularly fleet of foot and has rarely sounded so good on record and fair leaps out of the speakers. The first movement, too, is exceptionally well-judged, the atmospheric start laying the groundwork for the rhythmic motifs to gradually impose themselves. Nor does Brabbins dwell in the ‘melancholic slow movement, yet finds a real depth of feeling, passionately performed as if in one long phrase. The finale is thrilling, the massive string and brass statements carrying impressive weight as they trade off with rolling timpani. The end, when it comes, is a victory well-won.

There is also an extremely satisfying account of the Second Symphony, showing off its unusual but rich orchestral colours. The piano and vibraphone are ideally placed in the mix, making themselves heard in accompaniment to the dominant, bittersweet theme of the first movement, which Brabbins ensures is beautifully shaped, its angular lines strange yet logical. His speeds are slightly slower than André Previn, but as in the First Symphony there is a strong sense of progression, with the syncopated rhythmic trajectory generating considerable energy. The composition of the Second caused Walton considerable strife, and that is evident in the subtext, not least in the alarming outburst that tears the second movement apart. Despite the building tension in the previous pages Brabbins puts full emphasis on this, making it a real shock. The finale is resolute, its twelve-note structure borne through some impressive flourishes, with a touching aside on muted strings and a powerful fugato, its restless melodies harnessed by Brabbins for maximum power.

Bisecting the two symphonies is the charming Siesta, affectionately played with the violin and cello duet its standout melody. In each of the three works Martyn Brabbins shows a keen understanding of Walton’s writing, able to shape structures large and small in a way that suggests further discs of the composer’s orchestral music from this source will be very welcome. For now, though, this is a winning disc of William Walton’s two symphonies.

— Ben Hogwood

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William Walton (29 March 1902 – 8 March 1983) was an English composer. During a sixty-year career, he wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera. His best-known works include Façade, the cantata Belshazzar's Feast, the Viola Concerto, the First Symphony, and the British coronation marches Crown Imperial and Orb and Sceptre. Walton was a slow worker, painstakingly perfectionist, and his complete body of work is not large. His most popular compositions continue to be frequently performed in the 21st century, and by 2010 almost all his works had been released on CD.

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Martyn Brabbins (born 13 August 1959) is a British conductor. He studied composition at Goldsmiths, University of London, and conducting with Ilya Musin at the Leningrad Conservatory. Between 1994 and 2005, Brabbins was Associate Principal Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He made a significant mark through recordings not in standard repertory and as one of the main conductors involved in Hyperion's extensive Romantic Piano Concerto series. Brabbins has conducted commercial recordings of music for such labels as Warner, Chandos, Hyperion, NMC, Nimbus, and Deutsche Grammophon.

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