128.120.225.5
In Reply to: RE: Music of Arnold Bax posted by John C. - Aussie on April 30, 2009 at 19:21:53
... IMO.
The Handley set is not new; it came out in 2003 amid quite a lot of critical acclaim, particularly among the British press. Gramophone went gaga. It's a solid set, and I would say that for those who already know and like all of Bax's symphonies, it's a no-brainer.
However, for the rest of us--ie, those who like *some* of Bax's symphonies and like the tone poems at least equally well--the Naxos discs are the way to go. I don't know diddley about David Lloyd-Jones, but he makes the Scottish National Orchestra sound better than Handley's BBC orch, and the interpretations have a bit more bite and rythmic drive--crucial in Bax, who can be a bit too dreamy at times for me. And just on a practical level, you can buy the symphonies one at a time, usually coupled with a tone poem or two.
If you're new to Bax, I would recommend starting with Symphony 7/Tintagel in the Naxos series, then the Symphony 4/Nypholept, and Symphony 6 disc. If you're already a fan, buy both the Chandos and Naxos!
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