Composed in response to a commission from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony No. 4, Lennox Berkeley’s last symphony, was first performed in 1978 at the Royal Festival Hall under the baton of Sir Charles Groves. It is scored for a relatively large orchestra including triple woodwind and a harp. Unlike his third symphony it is in three separate movements, the second combining elements of slow movement and scherzo in a set of variations, one of Lennox Berkeley’s favourite forms.

Michael Berkeley composed his Cello Concerto in 1983. The composer revised the work extensively for a performance in 1997 and has made some final revisions for this recording. The concerto is scored for a classical orchestra of strings, flute (doubling piccolo) and pairs of oboes, bassoons and horns; and this lightness of texture is matched by a general lightness of tone, the single movement consisting in effect of a scherzo with contrasting slower trio episodes.

The Garden of Earthly Delights (1998) is a response to a work of art which had fascinated Michael Berkeley for years – the famous triptych by Hieronymus Bosch depicting in minute and often grotesque detail the innocence of the Garden of Eden, the experience of carnal knowledge and the retribution of Hell. Berkeley’s work was commissioned for a Promenade concert given by the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich. He took full advantage of the youthful skill and enthusiasm of the Orchestra to write a demanding piece for very large orchestral forces. He also positioned three soloists at different points in the hall as can be clearly heard in the surround sound SACD of this release.