New Russia State Symphony Orchestra & Alexander Walker - Havergal Brian: Symphonies Nos. 6, 28, 29 & 31 (2015)

Havergal Brian’s extraordinary late creativity is almost unparalleled in musical history. Between the completion of Symphony No. 6 in 1948 and the end of his compositional life two decades later he wrote 26 symphonies. No. 6 marks a crucial point in his adoption of more concise forms and economy of expression in its single-movement span, a process taken even further in the brief but free polyphonic fantasia of No. 31. In Symphonies Nos. 28 and 29 Brian turned to the classical four-movement model but one which is wholly and idiosyncratically re-imagined. The intensity and even savagery of No. 28 is balanced by No. 29, Brian’s most lyrical late work.

Naxos continues its exploration of the sequence of symphonies by English composer Havergal Brian with four more examples. The earliest is the Sixth, written when he was 72, but Nos. 28, 29 and 31 are late works, full of his characteristic qualities of individuality and powerful gestures. One of his most intermittently savage symphonies, No.28, is balanced by his most lyrical late work in the genre, No.29. There are no competing recordings for this disc, which will be warmly welcomed by British Music adherents.

„…the Moscow orchestra…deliver performances of notable distinction, of music that is by no means easy to grasp and which poses problems to any ensemble that undertakes it. The undoubted success of this release has to be laid at the feet of Alexander Walker, who clearly has the grasp of this remarkably condensed and unique series of works. A magnificent record…“ (Robert Matthew-Walker, Classicalsource.com)

New Russia State Symphony Orchestra
Alexander Walker, conductor