Malcolm Arnold - Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 (Andrew Penny)

Information

Composer: Malcolm Arnold

1. Symphony No. 3, Op. 63: 1. Allegro - vivace
2. Symphony No. 3, Op. 63: 2. Lento
3. Symphony No. 3, Op. 63: 3. Allegro con brio - Presto
4. Symphony No. 4, Op. 71: 1. Allegro - poco più mosso - Tempo primo
5. Symphony No. 4, Op. 71: 2. Vivace ma non troppo
6. Symphony No. 4, Op. 71: 3. Andantino
7. Symphony No. 4, Op. 71: 4. Con fuoco - Alla marcia - Tempo primo - Maestoso - Allegro molto

National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
Andrew Penny, conductor

Date: 1996
Label: Naxos
https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.553739

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Review

These new recordings of two of Malcolm Arnold’s finest symphonies can be recommended on all counts. Andrew Penny is clearly right inside every bar of the music and the playing of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland suggests thorough rehearsal, but not so much preparation that the musicians have become stale. They play with impressive ensemble and feeling, and above all great freshness and spontaneity.

Comparisons in this case are instructive. Penny’s timings are generally closer to Handley than to Hickox; in some ways his approach is emotionally tautest of all. Of course Hickox has a glorious Chandos recording, and the LSO strings (helped by the glowing resonance) have a body of tone the Dublin orchestra do not quite match. But that is not to say that the Naxos recording is unexpansive; indeed its concert-hall ambience has been beautifully caught by Chris Craker who both produced and engineered this disc. The beginning of the Third Symphony undoubtedly sounds sparer in Dublin than it does in London, but that seems to sharpen its emotional impact.

One of the finest players in Dublin is the principal oboe and his solos often bring a specially plangent quality, particularly in the slow movement of No. 3 (at 4'55'') where there is a real sense of desolation. The finale then lightens the mood with its kaleidoscope of wind and brass and a wispy string melody that soon becomes more fulsome. Penny’s momentum and characterization here are superb, as is the orchestral response. Similarly the winningly scored opening of the Fourth Symphony flashes with colour: then comes that marvellous tune (2'44'') played with captivating delicacy by the violins. The exquisitely fragile scherzo is etched with gossamer lightness and the slow movement is shaped by Penny with fine lyrical feeling and the most subtle use of light and shade. Its romanticism is heart-warming, yet balanced by Arnold’s underlying unease. The boisterous fugal finale brings some of the best playing of all, and just after the flute and piccolo have wittily recalled Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (3'06''), back comes that plaintive oboe (3'33'') to remind us not to take anything for granted. Yet surely all is well when the rumbustious march arrives (4'55'') and the orchestra play with splendid abandon.

In short these Naxos performances of two immensely enjoyable British symphonies are in every way worthy of our greatest living British composer. His music, I believe, will increasingly become part of our standard repertoire.

-- Ivan March, Gramophone

More reviews:
https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=8.553739&languageid=EN
https://www.amazon.com/Arnold-Symphonies-Nos-3-4/dp/B0000060CQ

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/May02/Arnold_white_box.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Aug07/Arnold_Symphonies_8.505221.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Dec07/Arnold_Symphonies_8505221.htm

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Malcolm Arnold (21 October 1921 – 23 September 2006) was an English composer. He was ranked with Britten as one of the most sought-after composers in Britain. His output of works features music in many genres, including a cycle of nine symphonies, numerous concertos, concert works, chamber music, choral music and music for brass band and wind band. He wrote extensively for the theatre, with five ballets specially commissioned by the Royal Ballet, as well as two operas and a musical. He also produced scores for more than a hundred films, among these The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), for which he won an Oscar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Arnold

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Andrew Penny is an English conductor who was born in Hull, England. He entered the Royal Manchester College of Music in 1971 to study the clarinet with Sidney Fell. Subsequently he studied with Sir Charles Groves and Timothy Reynish as a postgraduate, and also with Sir Edward Downes. Since 1982 Penny has been Musical Director of the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra. He has made over 35 recordings for the Naxos and Marco Polo labels since 1992. Much of his repertoire is of British Music and includes symphonies by Sir Malcolm Arnold and Havergal Brian and film music by Vaughan Williams and Walton.
https://www.naxos.com/person/Andrew_Penny_31809/31809.htm

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