Alwyn
Alwyn
Orchestral Music
(avg)
Artists: Philip Dukes, Rachel Pankhurst
Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: David Lloyd-Jones
Label: Naxos
CD No: 8.570704
The past few years have seen the advent of the 19th- and
20th-century English composers come to complete fruition. The
revival of the Lyrita label and Naxos' own sterling efforts to
release everything from songs and chamber music to operas and
orchestral works have been incredibly well received on disc, even
though these works are not making it into the modern-day concert
hall.
This disc, featuring some of Alwyn's orchestral music, adds to
Naxos' already impressive discography of his music, which
includes all the symphonies and piano concertos, among songs and
chamber music. The seven works presented here reveal the
composer's own unique sense of lush orchestration and unique
harmony.
Responsive to the challenges of orchestral writing, Alwyn gives us
music of much under-rated quality and craftsmanship. Each work
stands out from the buoyant Overture to a Masque and Concerto
Grosso No 1, to the almost Vaughan Williams-ike Pastoral Fantasia,
revealing a special quality of string writing only achieved by
English composers.
As well as including the world premiere recording of the
melancholic but tender Five Preludes, this disc affords us a
harrowing performance of the Tragic Interlude and the darkly
coloured tone poem Autumn Legends.
Closing with a joyful and committed performance of the Suite of
Scottish Dances, this disc is a wonderful cross-section of the
unique musicianship achieved by Alwyn. The RLPO gives a balanced,
rich performance, wonderfully directed by the ever musically
sympathetic David Lloyd-Jones. If you are building up a collection
of English music, this disc is a must-have. If you are not, then
you should be. Andrew King
This review was submitted by a Muso reader and the opinions
expressed reflect solely the opinions of the writer, not those of
Muso magazine or its publisher. Muso cannot guarantee the accuracy
of any information provided
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