For many listeners, British composer Havergal Brian is almost exclusively identified with his Symphony No. 1 in D minor, "The Gothic" (1919-1927), a Guinness record holder for its extraordinary length and breathtaking scale, and the most controversial of his 31 symphonies. Considering the enormity of the work and the difficulty of mounting performances, even under the best circumstances, there are precious few recordings available, so the appearance of any at all is news for devotees of this mammoth work. Martyn Brabbins' ...
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For many listeners, British composer Havergal Brian is almost exclusively identified with his Symphony No. 1 in D minor, "The Gothic" (1919-1927), a Guinness record holder for its extraordinary length and breathtaking scale, and the most controversial of his 31 symphonies. Considering the enormity of the work and the difficulty of mounting performances, even under the best circumstances, there are precious few recordings available, so the appearance of any at all is news for devotees of this mammoth work. Martyn Brabbins' 2011 live recording on Hyperion with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the BBC Concert Orchestra is decidedly a vital addition to the catalog, and anyone who wants a terrific sounding recording should give this double disc a try. Everything is startlingly detailed and transparent, despite the density of Brian's scoring and the vastness of his forces, and the clarity of the music is a big selling point when comparing this rendition to older performances, which had muffled sound...
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