Havergal Brian: Symphonies Nos. 6, 28, 29 & 31 New Russia State Symphony Orchestra & Alexander Walker

• Havergal Brian (1876 - 1972): Symphony No. 6 ‘Sinfonia Tragica’ (1948):
• 1Symphony No. 6, Sinfonia tragica19:53
• Symphony No. 28 (Sinfonia in C minor) (1967):
• 2I. Moderato -02:58
• 3II. Grazioso e leggiero -03:28
• 4III. Andante espressivo -03:45
• 5IV. Allegro con brio03:49
• Symphony No. 29 in E flat major (1967):
• 6I. Adagio - Allegro -09:00
• 7II. Lento cantabile sempre -04:22
• 8III. Allegretto grazioso -04:13
• 9IV. Adagio - Allegro molto - Adagio05:27
• Symphony No. 31 (in one movement) (1968):
• 10Symphony No. 3112:56
• Total Runtime01:09:51

Info for Havergal Brian: Symphonies Nos. 6, 28, 29 & 31

Havergal Brian’s extraordinary late creativity is almost unparalleled in musical history. Between the completion of Symphony No. 6 in 1948 and the end of his compositional life two decades later he wrote 26 symphonies. No. 6 marks a crucial point in his adoption of more concise forms and economy of expression in its single-movement span, a process taken even further in the brief but free polyphonic fantasia of No. 31. In Symphonies Nos. 28 and 29 Brian turned to the classical four-movement model but one which is wholly and idiosyncratically re-imagined. The intensity and even savagery of No. 28 is balanced by No. 29, Brian’s most lyrical late work.

Naxos continues its exploration of the sequence of symphonies by English composer Havergal Brian with four more examples. The earliest is the Sixth, written when he was 72, but Nos. 28, 29 and 31 are late works, full of his characteristic qualities of individuality and powerful gestures. One of his most intermittently savage symphonies, No.28, is balanced by his most lyrical late work in the genre, No.29. There are no competing recordings for this disc, which will be warmly welcomed by British Music adherents.

„…the Moscow orchestra…deliver performances of notable distinction, of music that is by no means easy to grasp and which poses problems to any ensemble that undertakes it. The undoubted success of this release has to be laid at the feet of Alexander Walker, who clearly has the grasp of this remarkably condensed and unique series of works. A magnificent record…“ (Robert Matthew-Walker, Classicalsource.com)

New Russia State Symphony Orchestra
Alexander Walker, conductor

New Russia State Symphony Orchestra
The Novaya Rossiya (New Russia) State Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1990. In 2002 Yuri Bashmet became its director, opening a new chapter in its history and bringing his own inimitable manner of interpretation, whereby each concert evokes the feeling that the music is being created anew. Appearing with the orchestra have been soloists and conductors of the highest international distinction. Novaya Rossiya is a frequent guest at festivals in Russia and abroad, including the Moscow Easter Festival, the Alfred Schnittke Festival in Moscow, the Besançon Festival in France, the Elba Isola Musicale d’Europa in Italy, the Athens Festival in Greece and the Festival of Russian Art in Essen, Germany. Since 2008 the orchestra has taken part in the annual Bashmet Winter Music Festival in Sochi, and the International Yuri Bashmet Music Festival in Yaroslavl and Minsk. The orchestra regularly plays a subscription series under the auspices of the Moscow Philharmonic Association, with varied programmes aimed at both adult and younger listeners. It has often toured abroad, notably to Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria, Holland, Spain, Japan, India and Turkey. It also tours at home. The orchestra boasts a wide repertoire and frequently gives premières of contemporary works.

Alexander Walker
Alexander Walker’s career has taken him all over the world. He is highly regarded for his interpretations of nineteenth- and twentieth-century music from Central and Eastern Europe, and he has introduced British music to many audiences unfamiliar with it, throughout Europe and elsewhere. In the UK he works regularly as a guest conductor with many major orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, City of London Sinfonia and the English Chamber Orchestra. International engagements include frequent appearances with the Russian State Symphony Orchestra, New Russia State Symphony Orchestra, George Enescu Philharmonic and the Belgrade Philharmonic, as well as orchestras throughout Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Denmark, Finland, Romania, the Balkans and Turkey. He has conducted at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, touring with the Royal Ballet to the Metropolitan Opera, Kennedy Centre and elsewhere in the United States, at the Bolshoy and Mariinsky Theatres in Russia, and in South Korea, Japan and Singapore. He has been Music Director for productions for the Norwegian and Finnish National Operas and elsewhere. He conducted the first ever production of an opera by Britten in Turkey for Istanbul State Opera.

Booklet for Havergal Brian: Symphonies Nos. 6, 28, 29 & 31