GEORGE LLOYD: Symphonies 7-12

GEORGE LLOYD: Symphonies 7-12

BBC Philharmonic OrchestraAlbany Symphony Orchestra Lyrita SRCD 2418 Lloyd’s seventh symphony ‘Proserpine’ of 1959 is a long three movement work opening with the joyful dancing side of life, beginning with a repeated xylophone anticipating John Adams’ Short ride in a...
THOMAS PITFIELD: His Friends and Contemporaries

THOMAS PITFIELD: His Friends and Contemporaries

Plus String Chamber Music Divine Art ddx 21246Divine Art ddx 21137 Here are three discs celebrating the musical accomplishment of Thomas Pitfield and his contemporaries. Thomas Pitfield (1903–1999) was a largely self-taught as a composer, but he was also an...
GEORGE BENJAMIN: Picture a Day Like This

GEORGE BENJAMIN: Picture a Day Like This

Mahler Chamber OrchestraGeorge Benjamin conductor Nimbus N18116 At little more than an hour and a bit it was no hardship to watch Picture a Day Like This twice at the Royal Opera Studio last year, although this recording is actually from the Aix-en-Provence première....
RUTH GIPPS: Piper of Dreams

RUTH GIPPS: Piper of Dreams

Juliana Koch oboe/cor anglaisMichael McHale pianoJulian Bliss clarinet CHAN 20290 Decades ago the best chance of hearing the music of Ruth Gipps was to attend her occasional and often adventurous concerts with her various ‘semi-pro’ orchestras on the South Bank and...
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Early and Late Works

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Early and Late Works

Flourish for Glorious JohnFantasia for piano and orchestraThe SteersmanThe Future Lucy Crowe sopranoJacques Imbrailo baritoneAndrew von Oeyen pianoBBC Symphony Orchestra and ChorusMartin Yates conductor Dutton CDLX 7411 This is an interesting (well, in parts) addition...