Search - Havergal Brian, Tony Rowe, Moscow Symphony Orchestra :: Brian: Symphony No. 2; Festival Fanfare

Incomparable Early Brian

Mr. Louis Blois | New York | 08/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brian, like Brahms, started writing symphonies relatively late in his career. He was in his mid-40s when he began the mammoth First "Gothic" symphony, which was completed nearly a decade later. Anyone who loves that sprawling masterpiece of exuberant lyricism and magical sonority will love the Second Symphony every bit as much. Those who know Brian's oeuvre know that with each symphony his style follows a tightly evolving spiral, eventually arriving at the cryptic, craggy, almost impenetrable musical language of the later symphonies. He wrote 32 in all. But the early symphonies occupy a world all their own, and there are all too few of them. Exuberant and intensely lyrical, they combine the expanse and psychological complexity of Mahler, the grandeur of Wagner's musical mythology, and the sensual richness of Impressionism. All of this is brought together with a quirkiness and at the same time a cosmic, all-embracing vision. The Second Symphony is another prime example. One might call it music's answer to Heironimous Bosch's painting "Garden of Earthly delights". The four movements follow, more or less, the standard dramatic layout (Sonata allegro, slow mvmt, scherzo, march finale), with many surprises inside. This is richly textured, engagingly lyrical music that in its 53 minutes never falters in its sense of purpose or in its ability to fascinate the listener. Highly recommended."

Not Brian at his best!

A. Page | 02/10/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have a lot of time for the music of Havergal Brian, but I don't recommend this recording as a way in.

The first two movements sound like an incoherent mess as if little attention or care has been taken over them. The last two movements are truly imaginative and powerful enough to carry the work through, but you would be better off starting with the excellent recording of the 3rd."