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Malcolm Arnold Overtures

SIR MALCOLM ARNOLD

(b. 1921)

A Grand Grand Festival Overture, Op. 57 (1956)

7:59

Allegro con brio - Molto meno mosso e maestoso -

Peterloo, Op. 97 (1967)

10:08

Overture for Orchestra

Andante con moto - Allegro vivace - Con fuoco -

The Smoke, Op. 21 (1948)

7:57

Overture for Orchestra

Vivace ma non troppo - Andante con moto - Tempo I -

Tam o' Shanter, Op. 51 (1955)

8:16

Overture after the Poem of Robert Burns

To Michael Black

Poco lento - Allegretto - Vivace - Allegretto - Allegro -

A Flourish for Orchestra, Op. 112 (1973)

3:25

Giubiloso - Allargando - Meno mosso

The Fair Field, Op. 110 (1972)

7:17

To William Walton with the greatest esteem and affection

Vivace - Allegro con brio - Lento e maestoso

A Sussex Overture, Op. 31 (1951)

9:18

For Herbert Menges and the Brighton Philharmonic Society

Allegro con brio

Anniversary Overture, Op. 99 (1968)

4:19

for Orchestra

Allegro giubiloso

premiere recording

Robert Kett, Op. 141 (1990)

7:52

Overture

Lento e maestoso - Alla marcia

10.

Beckus the Dandipratt, Op. 5 (1943)

7:57

Comedy Overture for Full Orchestra

Allegro ma non troppo

75:43

Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Kathy Jones principal vacuum cleaner

Helena Miles sub principal vacuum cleaner

Chris Hoyle section vacuum cleaner

Fiona Macintosh principal floor polisher

Conductor: Rumon Gamba

20-22 January 2004

Déjà Review: this review was first published in April 2005 and the recording is still available.

“…There’s some hugely entertaining music on this CD. Rumon Gamba conducts with consistent incisiveness and flair. With the BBC Philharmonic responding with great enthusiasm this is a pretty unmissable disc. I urgently recommend it.”

John Quinn – Musicwebinternational.com – 17 April 2024

"... marvellously played, with a truly Arnoldian infectious exhilaration, and the Chandos recording is in the demonstration bracket."

The Penguin Guide - 1000 Greatest Classical Recordings 2011-12

…electrifying performances

Gramophone on CHAN 9967(2) (Arnold Symphonies)

However, Arnold’s many fans will no doubt relish the whole programme, including the first recording of the 1990 ‘Robert Kett’ Overture. And these are lively, well-recorded performances, with an outstanding contribution from the BBC Philharmonic brass.

BBC Music Magazine

Arnold’s genius was particularly suited to small-scale orchestral works and every one of these examples shows his orchestral personality at its exuberant best… The other works bring inventiveness and similarly brilliant scoring… All are most entertaining, and marvellously played; you’ll be glad to know that the ‘players’ of the vacuum cleaners and the floor polishers get a credit. The Chandos recording is of the demonstration class.

Gramophone

Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic plow through these items with élan and confidence, producing consistent solidity of tone and unerring precision of ensemble. Chandos’ sound is admirably blended and highly sensitive to textural values.

Fanfare (USA)

Arnold is arguably Britain’s greatest living composer, and certainly one of the most prolific. He also has a wicked sense of humour as shown in A Grand Grand Festival Overture, which features three vacuum cleaners and a floor polisher. This splendid CD includes the famous Tam O’Shanter and Peterloo overtures, and Beckus the Dandipratt. There’s also a premiere recording of what must be one of his last pieces, Robert Kett, from 1990.

Classic FM Magazine

But both approaches are musically valid and convincinga as well as emotionally rewarding, and this Chandos disc should be part of any self-respecting collection of 20th-century English Music. Hear! Hear!

The BBC Philharmonic plays splendidly for him and clearly enjoys the music. The Chandos recording is one of its finest. The notes are very thorough.

American Record Guide

Symphonies are brought off impressively… Gamba makes the work strangely compelling…

The Sunday Times ‘Records of the Year’ on CHAN 996

This is a superb disc. Infectious fun, brilliantly played by the BBC Philharmonic, who are evidently inspired by their conductor Rumon Gamba. Arnold's music has swagger and verve, a true original. The studio master reveals great detail and depth and sounds amazing played through a Dragonfly USB DAC. Highly recommended.

P Kirk

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Malcolm Arnold Overtures

SIR MALCOLM ARNOLD

A Grand Grand Festival Overture, Op. 57 (1956)

Peterloo, Op. 97 (1967)

The Smoke, Op. 21 (1948)

Tam o' Shanter, Op. 51 (1955)

A Flourish for Orchestra, Op. 112 (1973)

The Fair Field, Op. 110 (1972)

A Sussex Overture, Op. 31 (1951)

Anniversary Overture, Op. 99 (1968)

Robert Kett, Op. 141 (1990)

Beckus the Dandipratt, Op. 5 (1943)

Why not buy the whole Album?

Malcolm Arnold Overtures

SIR MALCOLM ARNOLD

A Grand Grand Festival Overture, Op. 57 (1956)

Peterloo, Op. 97 (1967)

The Smoke, Op. 21 (1948)

Tam o' Shanter, Op. 51 (1955)

A Flourish for Orchestra, Op. 112 (1973)

The Fair Field, Op. 110 (1972)

A Sussex Overture, Op. 31 (1951)

Anniversary Overture, Op. 99 (1968)

Robert Kett, Op. 141 (1990)

Beckus the Dandipratt, Op. 5 (1943)

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