ARNOLD BAX
Bax: Symphony No. 1 / In the Faery Hills / Garden of Fand Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones [ Naxos / CD - released 2/Feb/1998 ] "In the two symphonic poems, more specifically inspired by Irish themes, Lloyd-Jones draws equally warm and sympathetic performances from the Scottish Orchestra, bringing inner clarity to the heaviest scoring. First-rate sound" Penguin Guide |
ARNOLD BAX
Bax: Symphony No. 2 / November Woods Royal Scottish National Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones [ Naxos / CD - released 2/Feb/1996 ] "...this recording has a physical impact and emotional involvement that genuinely compel. A veritable blockbuster." Gramophone |
BRIAN EASDALE
The Film Music (Incls 'The Red Shoes' & 'Black Narcissus') BBC National Chorus of Wales & BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Rumon Gamba [ Chandos Movies / CD - released 1/Mar/2011 ] "this excellent CD puts [Easdale] back where he belongs, in the top rank of film composers...The young voices of the BBC National Chorus of Wales add a vivid and dynamic dimension to both of these scores." Gramophone Magazine Editor's Choice May 2011 |
ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY
Zemlinsky: Symphony in D minor / Symphony in B flat major BBC National Chorus of Wales, Martyn Brabbins [ Hyperion / CD - released 1/Sep/2014 ] "the present release can be confidently recommended for the refined and subtle playing of the BBC NOW and a recording that achieves an ideal balance between textural clarity and Romantic warmth." BBC Music |
SERGE DIAGHILEV
Diaghilev: Diaghilev's Ballet Russes BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer (conductor) [ Signum Classics / 3 CD - released 5/Sep/2011 ] Serge Diaghilev's choice of composers for his Ballet Russes productions (often acknowledged as one of the 20th century's most influential ballet companies) has led to the creation of some of the most engaging and exhilarating music in the classical... |
SIR CHARLES HUBERT H. PARRY
Parry: Symphony No.4 / Three Movements from 'Suite moderne BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, Rumon Gamba [ Chandos / CD - released 14/Oct/2018 ] "… all this rewarding repertoire is decently served by Rumon Gamba and his combined BBC forces. Chandos's sound is ripe and true to match, and Jeremy Dibble supplies a most helpful annotation." Gramophone |
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Firebird: Works By Stravinsky BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer (conductor) [ Signum / CD - released 27/Jul/2009 ] The music commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for his Ballet Russes has generated some of the most inventive and popular orchestral works of the 20th Century. Led by Principal Conductor Thierry Fischer, these recordings capture the excitement and... |
RUTH GIPPS
Gipps: Symphonies Nos 2 & 4, etc BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Rumon Gamba [ Chandos / CD - released 14/Sep/2018 ] "[Knight in Armour], and the single-movement Second Symphony, from 1945, are clearly both indebted to Gipps's teacher Vaughan Williams, while the Fourth, from 1972, seems to belong securely and less distinctively in the mainstream of mid-century cons |
STRAVINSKY / POULENC
Rite of Spring / Les Biches BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Thierry Fischer [ Signum Records / CD - released 10/Feb/2012 ] "Helped by state-of-the-art sound, Fischer's refinement speaks volumes in the Rite's quieter passages, where the string clusters and gurgling woodwind have a lucid beauty that contrasts finely with the weight of the rest...The real treat, though, is... |
GLAZUNOV
Symphonies 4 & 8 BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Oct/2003 ] "Strongly characterized and distinctively Russian themes … beautifully and sensitively played … what a fine orchestra this is. There could be no better introduction to Glazunov's symphonic world" (Classical Music Web) |
GLAZUNOV
Symphonies (Complete at a budget price) BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2007 ] "The BBC NOW performances are spruce and sympathetic, avoiding special pleading but at the same time far more subtle than routine run-throughs. High standards of recording and booklet presentation continue to be a strong selling-point for this... |
GLAZUNOV
Symphonies Nos 5 & 7 BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS / CD - released 13/Jul/2004 ] "The BBC NOW performances are spruce and sympathetic, avoiding special pleading but at the same time far more subtle than routine run-throughs. High standards of recording and booklet presentation continue to be a strong selling-point for this... |
GLAZUNOV
Symphony No 3 / Ballade in F major BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS / CD - released 1/Nov/2002 ] "A splendidly vital and sensitive account" - International Record Review |
GUTO PRYDERI PUW
Reservoirs: Orchestral Works by Guto Pryderi Puw BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Jac van Steen [ Signum / CD - released 16/Aug/2014 ] " Presented with great clarity by the orchestra under Jac van Steen, they show Puw revelling in the opportunity to write challengingly for such a proficient band, though at times that enthusiasm does get the better of him...[Reservoirs] is the most i |
GEORGE BUTTERWORTH
Orchestral Works [Incls 'The Banks of Green Willow'] BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Kriss Russman, James Rutherford (baritone) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 13/May/2016 ] When George Butterworth joined the army in 1914, his most recent works included the song cycle Six Songs from 'A Shropshire Lad' as well as the Rhapsody 'A Shropshire Lad', which he called 'an orchestral epilogue' to his settings of A. E. Housman's... |
SAINT-SAENS / BLACKFORD / KRAUSE
The Great Animal Orchestra / Carnival of the Animals (in a new Orchestration) BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Martyn Brabbins (conductor) [ Nimbus Alliance / CD - released 21/Aug/2015 ] The Great Animal Orchestra, Symphony for Orchestra and Wild Soundscapes by English composer Richard Blackford and wild soundscape recordist Bernie Krause combines the sounds of the natural world with the traditional sounds of the orchestra.... |
RUPERT BAWDEN
The Sailor's Tale: Two Studies The Donkey Dances BBC National Orchestra Of Wales / Nash Ensemble / Rupert Bawden [ NMC / CD - released 25/Mar/2008 ] "A well produced CD and a good introduction to an appealing, quirky composer." Musical Pointers, 2004 |
FRANK BRIDGE
Orchestral Works, Volume 1 (Includes Mid of the Night & Two Poems for Orchestra) BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Richard Hickox [ Chandos / CD - released 30/Oct/2001 ] ***** Five Stars (Pick of the Month) BBC Music Magazine (Jan 2002) |
FRANK BRIDGE
Orchestral Works, Volume 2 (Incl Norse Legend) BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 10/May/2004 ] Performance **** Sound Quality **** BBC Music Magazine |
KENNETH LEIGHTON
Orchestral works Vol 1 (Incls 'Symphony for Strings, Op. 3') BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Richard Hickox [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Jun/2008 ] 'John Scott is a first-rate soloist in this taxing work and Richard Hickox directs superbly paced and eloquent performances of this fine music.' BBC Music Magazine (five stars) |