The symphony was not Dilkes' first Moeran recording. The composer's Two Pieces for Small Orchestra were featured in the 1972 set. The symphony, which dates from the 1930s, is a much more ambitious work.
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| E.J. Moeran |
The contemporary reviews stressed the composer's influences, principally Walton and Sibelius. But the symphony holds its own quite well and is a substantial achievement.
Edward Greenfield's review in The Gramophone (included in the download) is an example of such criticism. He does, however, add this disclaimer: "I have indicated, maybe with too great an emphasis, some of the obvious influences, not with the thought of disparaging the music but of leading new listeners to a gloriously rich experience. Paradoxically in this work with its obvious eclecticism Moeran seems to be more fully himself than anywhere else. Beautiful as much of Moeran's other music is, I do not detect the same life-thrust."
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| Neville Dilkes |
Greenfield was enthusiastic about the recording itself: "This performance by Neville Dilkes and the English Sinfonia sets the seal on the two previous records of British music which they have made for EMI. The violin tone may not be quite so resonant as with some metropolitan orchestras, but against a richly recorded texture one quickly adjusts to it. The brass and woodwind are superb, enunciating Moeran's sharp rhythms with the finest precision. Dilkes shows himself an expressive conductor, treating Moeran as one would expect Sir John Barbirolli to have done, and the whole orchestra, not least the string section, responds wholeheartedly."
The Hallé/Leslie Heward Recording
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| Leslie Heward |
It is idle to speculate about what Barbirolli's recording might have been like, considering he never made one. The only previous release of the symphony was in 1942 by the Hallé Orchestra under Leslie Heward, a fine conductor who died young. The critical response to the Heward disc was just as enthusiastic as the reaction to Dilkes' performance. From an unsigned review, possibly by Compton MacKenzie, in The Gramophone: "[H]ere is a work strong in tensions, with lyrical episodes, most imaginatively scored; informal drama, tragic rather than humanely-comedic (though not for long doom-darkened): a work to spend a lot of time on." Not entirely sure what all that means, but perhaps you get a general idea. It's an impressive performance that does full justice to the work. The sound is good.
LINK to the English Sinfonia/Dilkes recording
LINK to the Halle Orchestra/Heward recording
