Search - Malcolm Arnold, Richard Hickox, London Symphony Orchestra :: Malcolm Arnold: Symphonies 5 & 6

Crackling Good!

Karl W. Nehring | Ostrander, OH USA | 07/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There once was available a recording of the Arnold 6th conducted by Vernon Handley on Conifer, a CD that also includes some shorter pieces by Sir Malcolm. The Chandos cycle recorded by Hickox concentrates on the symphonies themselves, so in this case, the diskmate of the 6th is the 5th, an engaging symphony that is the piece that first got me hooked on Arnold's music back in the late '70s. If you have not yet heard any of Sir Malcolm's symphonies, then this disk is an ideal starting place. The 5th is an engaging symphony that features sweeping melodies and abrupt changes in mood, while the 6th is an intriguing work with haunting instrumental lines and skipping rhythms. In both works, the performances crackle, and the sound quality is top-notch."