Self-quotation may be a sign of age, idleness or both; but I can’t avoid referring back to my 2007 review of this performance of Bax’s Symphony No.2, performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sir Eugene Goossens in 1956 (Dutton … Continue reading →
Given the power of Bax’s symphonies and tone poems, it is easy sometimes to forget the equal mastery of his major piano and chamber works, let alone the best of his countless productions for the human voice. Hearing this excellent … Continue reading →
At 2 p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday, 14 January 2017, the distinguished pianist Philip Mead began a marathon all-Bax programme in the Recital Room of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge—a very rare event that included two world premières. The … Continue reading →
‘For the Fallen’, Elgar: The Spirit of England Op.80*, A Voice in the Wilderness Op.77$, Grania and Diarmid Op.42#, Bax: In Memoriam, Hallé Choir and Orchestra, Rachel Nicolls (soprano)*; Joshua Ellicott (narrator), Jennifer France (soprano)$; Madeleine Shaw (mezzo-soprano)#, Sir Mark … Continue reading →
Bax: Variations for Orchestra and works by George Butterworth and Cyril Scott (all premieres) Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Aleksei Kiseliov (cello) Martin Yates, conductor Dutton Epoch CDLX7326 [61:55] Review by Richard R. Adams Martin Yates continues his resurrection efforts on … Continue reading →
Wednesday 13 April 2016, 7.30 pm The Barbican Hall BBC Symphony Orchestra Bax: The Garden of Fand Brett Dean: Viola Concerto Elgar: Symphony No. 1 Sakari Oramo conductor – Brett Dean viola Review by Roger Ogle Live concert performances of … Continue reading →
Cello Concertos by Arnold Bax and Stanley Bate Lionel Handy, cello Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates, conductor Lyrita SRCD.351 Review by Richard R. Adams First a confession: I’ve always found Bax’s Cello Concerto to be a tough nut to … Continue reading →
Lyrita issue the 1961 premiere of Bax’s Fauré Variations Benjamin: Ballade for String Orchestra Stevens: Sinfonietta for Strings Panufnik: Lullaby ‘Kolysanka’ for 29 strings and 2 harps Bax: Variations on the name Gabriel Fauré for harp and string orchestra The … Continue reading →
After Mozart… Music for Flute, Harp and Strings by Mozart, Bax, Debussy, Harty and Faure Sarah Newbold, flute; Katherine Thomas, Harp; David Angel, violin; Martin Outram, viola & Michal Kaznowski, cello. Recorded a St. German’s Church, Cardiff on 21 and … Continue reading →
Bax Violin Concerto: Andre Gertler, violin; Sir Malcolm Sargent conductor BBC Symphony Orchestra BBC Broadcast 6 February 1957 Lyrita REAM 2114 Mono ADD Review by Richard R. Adams Bax had good reason to be pessimistic toward the end of his … Continue reading →
