Frank Bridge - Complete Orchestral Works (BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Nickox)
Richard Hickox, BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Frank Bridge: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1-6 (2001-2005)
Composer: Frank Bridge (1879-1941) 弗兰克·布里奇
Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Conductor: Richard Hickox 理查德·希考克斯
Genre: Classical
Label: CHANDOS
Number of Discs: 6
Nos.: CHAN 9950, 10012, 10112, 10188, 10246, 10310
Rls. years: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2004, 2005
Total Time: 07:05:05
Frank Bridge (26 February 1879 – 10 January 1941) was an English composer, violist and conductor.
Frank Bridge couldn't write a tacky note to save his life. It's instructive in this respect to compare this premiere recording of his early tone poem Mid of the Night to Hyperion's recent release of Granville Bantock's almost exactly contemporaneous Thalaba the Destroyer. Where Bantock stitches shameless cribs from Tchaikovsky into a ramshackle and repetitive musical structure, Bridge's thematic material covers large, well-sustained spans and consistently holds the listener's interest. The lovely central melody introduced by English horn against softly murmuring strings has real lyrical beauty, and Bridge times his climaxes with unerring precision. Isabella, dating from 1907 (three years later than Mid of the Night), features some splendidly passionate string writing and an even more tightly integrated structure.
Two Poems for Orchestra shows Bridge moving confidently toward his mature style, the first movement delicately dissonant and suffused with yearning, the ensuing scherzo bubbling with vitality and a freshness that never turns facile. Enter Spring, a masterpiece of the composer's full maturity (1927), has the kind of exhilarating, bracingly vital pastoral character encountered more readily in the music of Roussel (middle movement of the Second Symphony) or Milhaud than in the British "cowpat" school, as Constant Lambert contemptuously referred to it. Alas, it's the weakest performance on the disc. While Richard Hickox's swift tempos sound wholly convincing, the recording balances the various sections of the orchestra poorly, and climaxes lack clarity. For example, the forte harp figurations at figure 1 fail to penetrate the very light accompaniment, and the percussion (cymbals and bass drum) is completely missing from the big climax at figure 30 (as are the chimes at the end).
Both Britten's live performance on BBC's "Britten the Performer" series and Charles Groves' classic EMI recording reveal far more of Bridge's luminous orchestral textures and encompass the climaxes with greater transparency. On the other hand, the other three works, more simply scored as they are, come off much better, and a new series devoted to the complete orchestral works of this neglected master is simply too important a prospect for the problems with Enter Spring to preclude an overall recommendation. I do hope, though, that Chandos cleans up its sonic act for future releases. [2/5/2002]
–David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
CDs Info:
Vol. 1 (CHAN 9950) - Tracks:
1. Enter Spring (1926-27), rhapsody for orchestra, H.174
2. Isabella (1907), symphonic poem for orchestra, H.78
Poems (2) after Richard Jefferies for orchestra (1915), H.118
3. I. The Open Air - Andante moderato e semplice
4. II. The Story of My Heart - Allegro con brio
5. Mid of the Night (1903), symphonic poem for orchestra, H.30
TT: 75'48"
Recorded: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; 26 & 27 November 2000
Vol. 2 (CHAN 10012) - Tracks:
1. Dance Rhapsody (1908), for orchestra, H.84
Five Entr’actes (1910), from Emile Cammaerts’s play The Two Hunchbacks for orchestra, H.95
incidental music for the play by Émile Cammaerts
2. 1. Prelude to Act 1. Allegretto moderato - Lento
3. 2. Intermezzo from Act 2. Andantino
4. 3. Intermezzo from Act 3. Allegretto (marziale)
5. 4. Prelude to Act 3. Lento
6. 5. Entr'acte between Acts 2 and 3. Moderato
7. Dance Poem (1913), for orchestra, H.111
8. Norse Legend in G minor (1905/1938), for small orchestra, H.60
The Sea (1910–11), suite for orchestra, H.100
9. I. Seascape: Allegro ben moderato
10. II. Sea-Foam: Allegro vivo
11. III. Moonlight: Adagio ma non troppo
12. IV. Storm: Allegro energico - Allegro moderato e largamente
TT: 72'37"
Recorded: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; 19 & 20 September 2001
Vol. 3 (CHAN 10112) - Tracks:
1. Coronation March (1911), for orchestra, H.97
written for a competition celebrating the new King George V
2. Summer (1914), tone poem for orchestra, H.116
3. Phantasm (1931), Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, H.182
4. There Is a Willow Grows aslant a Brook (1927), Impression for Small Orchestra, H.173
title taken from Act IV of William Shakespeare's Hamlet; Benjamin Britten transcribed the work for viola and piano
Vignettes de Danse (1938), for small orchestra, H.166
1938 orchestration of 3 movements from Vignettes de Marseille for piano
5. I. Nicolette
6. II. Zoraida
7. III. Carmelita
8. Sir Roger de Coverley (1922), Christmas dance for string orchestra, H.155
original version for 2 violins, viola and cello
TT: 69'55"
Howard Shelley, piano
Recorded: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; 27 November 2000 (Sir Roger de Coverley) and 28 & 29 November 2002 (other works)
Vol. 4 (CHAN 10188) - Tracks:
1. Rebus (1940), overture for orchestra, H.191
2. Oration (Concerto elegiaco) (1930), for cello & orchestra, H.180
3. Allegro moderato (1940–41), fragment of a symphony for string orchestra, H.192 (fragment of a Symphony)
4. Lament (for Catherine, aged 9 "Lusitania" 1915) (1915), for String Orchestra, H.117
5. A Prayer (1916–18), for Chorus and Orchestra, H.140
words by Thomas à Kempis
TT: 77'00"
Alban Gerhardt, cello
Recorded: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; 13 & 14 May 2003
Vol. 5 (CHAN 10246) - Tracks:
Suite for string orchestra (1909–10), H.93
1. 1. Prelude. Moderato - Un pochettino maestoso - Allegro ma non troppo - Tempo 1, tranquillo - Meno
2. 2. Intermezzo. Allegretto grazioso
3. 3. Nocturne. Adagio molto - Un pochettino animato - Tempo 1
4. 4. Finale. Allegro vivo - Poco meno mosso - Tempo 1
5. The Hag (1902), song for baritone & orchestra, H.14
words by James Merrick
Songs (2) of Robert Bridges (1905–06), for baritone & orchestra, H.65
6. 1. I praise the tender flower, H 65a. Andante moderato - Pochettino più mosso - Tempo 1
7. 2. Thou didst delight my eyes, H 65b. Allegro appassionato - Moderato
Intermezzi (2) from 'Threads' (1921/1938), H.151
incidental music to the play by Frank Strayton; original for piano
8. 1. Andante molto moderato e tranquillo
9. 2. Tempo di valse - Animato
Old English Songs (2) (1916), for string orchestra, H.119
original version for 2 violins, viola and cello
10. Sally in Our Alley. Andante con moto - Poco tranquillo - Tempo 1
11. Cherry Ripe. Allegretto con moto
Entr'actes (2) (1906, 1926)
12. 1. Rosemary, H.68b. Andante espressivo e molto rubato - Allegro - Tempo 1 ma poco più tranquillo
13. 2. Canzonetta, H.169. Allegretto molto moderato e rubato - Allegro con moto - Tempo 1
14. Valse-Intermezzo (1902), for strings in E minor, H.17
15. Todessehnsucht (Come Sweet Death) (1932/1936), H.181
original version for piano
16. Sir Roger de Coverley (1922/1939), Christmas dance for string orchestra, H.155
1. Blow out, you bugles, H 132 (1918), for tenor and orchestra
2. Adoration, H 57 (1905/1918), for tenor and orchestra
3. Where she lies asleep, H 114 (1914), for tenor and orchestra
4. Love went a-riding, H 115 (1914), for tenor and orchestra
5. Thy hand in mine, H 124 (1917/1923), for tenor and orchestra
6. Berceuse, H 9 (1901), for soprano and orchestra
7. Mantle of blue, H 131 (1918/1934), for high voice and orchestra
8. Day after day, H 164i (1922), for mezzo-soprano and orchestra
9. Speak to me, my love!, H 164ii (1924), for mezzo-soprano and orchestra
10. Berceuse, H 8 (1901/1902 /1928)
11. Chant d’espérance, H 18ii (1902)
12. Serenade, H 23 (1903)
The Pageant of London, H 98 (1911), Suite for wind orchestra
13. I. Solemn March ‘Richard III leaving London
14. II. First Discoveries - 1. Introduction. Moderato
15. II. First Discoveries - 2. Pavane. Moderato
16. II. First Discoveries - 3. La Romanesca [a Galliard]. Allegretto
17. III. March ‘Henry VIII entering London
18. A Royal Night of Variety, H 184 (1934), Epilogue for orchestra
TT: 61'13"
Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano
Philip Langridge, tenor
Recorded: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; 23 & 24 October 2004
Track 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,11,13,18- Premiere rec.