AS&V's admirable British Light Music Discoveries series has now reached its sixth volume although there seems to be some sense of scraping the barrel. I don't' think that Walford Davies' RAF March and Harty's Londonderry Air could classify as 'discoveries' but anyway, these are, as always in this series, charming performances by Gavin Sutherland and his orchestras.
Gareth Glyn's 'Legend of the Lake' Suite is indeed a charming discovery however. Its five movements are brimful with colour and imagery and Sutherland directs with empathy for the music. The John Field Rondo is also quite a magical piece with Alan MacLean providing the solo part with customary panache. I also enjoyed Iain Hamilton's colourful 'Overture 1912'. David Fanshawe's lovely pieces 'Tarka the Otter' and the movingly titled 'Serenata: Mother and Child' are also beautifully played with the City of Prague Symphony Orchestra providing sympathetic interpretations.
The last work is by Christopher Slaski, a delightful Frank Lloyd Wright Suite that bubbles with infectious enthusiasm. Here Neil Thomson conducts the London Symphony and the interpretation is quite excellent, bringing this fine disc to a perfect conclusion. The cover picture alone is worth the investment.
Copyright © 2004, Gerald Fenech