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Naxos

Arnold: Symphonies No 5 and 6 / Penny, Ireland National So

$19.99

Details

Composer
ARNOLD
Artist
Andrew, Penny
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Jun 01, 2001
Catalog #
8552000
UPC
730099200028

About


Malcolm Arnold's music is so well crafted and effectively scored that it seldom fails to make a good impression, as fine recent recordings of the symphonies from Vernon Handley (Conifer) and Richard Hickox (Chandos) have convincingly demonstrated. Naxos' ongoing cycle, recorded in the presence of the composer, equals them, and in this case takes the palm pretty convincingly. Credit for this rests squarely with conductor Andrew Penny. The National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland plays very well, but it doesn't have quite the bravura of Hickox's London Symphony. It's the interpretations that make the difference. In the Fifth Symphony, for instance, both Hickox and Handley fly through the first movement, then linger over the second. Penny takes a bit more time at the opening, allowing the delicate sonorities of the second subject the necessary room to blossom, and he doesn't linger quite so much over the Andante con moto, enhancing its oddly disturbing mixture of tackiness and despair.


This approach also works very well in Symphony No. 6's Lento, with its pop music inflections, while in the same work Penny's ever-so-slightly deliberate finale (shades of Shostakovich!) perfectly realizes the ironic hollowness of its ultimate victory. These aren't huge differences, but the opportunity to make comparisons among various versions not only increases admiration for the viability of Arnold's symphonic achievement, but it offers convincing proof of Penny's ultimate superiority. Nor does Naxos have to take second place in the sonic sweepstakes: this is one of the label's best sounding recordings from this source. Superb.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 7 tracks

  1. 1 I. Tempestuoso 10:32
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Tempestuoso
    Duration
    10:32
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Andrew Penny
  2. 2 II. Andante con moto 10:54
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andante con moto
    Duration
    10:54
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Andrew Penny
  3. 3 III. Con fuoco 05:07
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Con fuoco
    Duration
    05:07
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Andrew Penny
  4. 4 IV. Risoluto 06:03
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Risoluto
    Duration
    06:03
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Andrew Penny
  5. 5 I. Energico 08:09
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Energico
    Duration
    08:09
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Andrew Penny
  6. 6 II. Lento 09:19
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Lento
    Duration
    09:19
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Andrew Penny
  7. 7 III. Con fuoco 07:13
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Con fuoco
    Duration
    07:13
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Andrew Penny