HAVERGAL BRIAN (1876–1972)

 

Symphony No 1 ‘The Gothic’

 

Symphony No 1 in D minor ‘The Gothic’

 

PART 1

1 Allegro assai [12'09]

2 Lento espressivo e solenne [11'54]

3 Vivace [12'15]

 

PART 2

4 Te Deum laudamus: Allegro moderato [17'47]

5 Iudex crederis esse venturus: Adagio molto solenne e religioso [16'13]

6 Te ergo, quaesumus: Moderato e molto sostenuto [35'47]

7 Applause [8'40]

 

SUSAN GRITTON soprano,

CHRISTINE RICE mezzo-soprano,

PETER AUTY tenor,

ALASTAIR MILES bass

THE BACH CHOIR,

BBC NATIONAL CHORUS OF WALES,

BRIGHTON FESTIVAL CHORUS,

CBSO YOUTH CHORUS,

CÔR CAERDYDD,

ELTHAM COLLEGE BOYS’ CHOIR,

HUDDERSFIELD CHORAL SOCIETY,

LONDON SYMPHONY CHORUS,

SOUTHEND BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CHOIRS,

DAVID GOODE organ

 

MARTYN BRABBINS conductor

 

On 17 July 2011 over 800 peformers gathered in London’s Royal Albert Hall to give a rare performance of Havergal Brian’s Symphony No 1 in D minor - ‘The Gothic’. Tickets for this Prom sold out within 24 hours, and so it gives us great pleasure to make this live recording available to all.

 

It’s a pretty phenomenal work. Responding to the challenge set by Sir Henry Wood, the composer has thrown just about every known orchestral instrument into the mix, then adding a double chorus of over 500, plus children’s choirs, for an hour-long Te Deum - the church’s blazing Hymn of Thanksgiving - which makes up the symphony’s finale.

 

Whether or not you were lucky enough to be there on the night, this is a recording not to be missed.

 

Hyperion Records 2cds CDA679712