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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The performances and recording are excellent. Whilst they were supervised by Arnold his last recording of the First was a very drawn out 38 minutes compared to Penney's more natural sounding 29. It is quite a dark and searching piece after an auspicious opening. Only in the finale do we get even a hint of Arnold's combination populist idiom with the more weighty material. The influence of Sibelius and Mahler are clear in this piece.
Sibelius is an even stronger influence in the Second. It is popular possibly because it is the least disquieting of his symphonic cycle. Penney completes the work in around 25 minutes without ever sounding rushed. The woodwind combinations throughout sound like imitations of Sibelius. The three quicker movements are quite extravert whilst the slow movement is more extended and searching, breaking out into a funeral march at one point. It is a well balanced symphony and has the hallmarks of much of Arnold's most popular works. If it lacks anything it is his combination of populist elements against more dissonant and darker elements. To some, that might make it all the more attractive.
Fine as these two early symphonies are they barely prepare you for the journey through the rest of his symphonic cycle. They're hardly bright eyed and innocent works but give no real hint of the traumas ahead.
I can recommend this recording very highly but, if you haven't done so already, I heartily recommend that you buy the whole Arnold symphonic series from Naxos, with Penny and the RTE Orchestra. These recordings represent one of Naxos's most successful recording cycles.
Sibelius is an even stronger influence in the Second. It is popular possibly because it is the least disquieting of his symphonic cycle. Penney completes the work in around 25 minutes without ever sounding rushed. The woodwind combinations throughout sound like imitations of Sibelius. The three quicker movements are quite extravert whilst the slow movement is more extended and searching, breaking out into a funeral march at one point. It is a well balanced symphony and has the hallmarks of much of Arnold's most popular works. If it lacks anything it is his combination of populist elements against more dissonant and darker elements. To some, that might make it all the more attractive.
Fine as these two early symphonies are they barely prepare you for the journey through the rest of his symphonic cycle. They're hardly bright eyed and innocent works but give no real hint of the traumas ahead.
I can recommend this recording very highly but, if you haven't done so already, I heartily recommend that you buy the whole Arnold symphonic series from Naxos, with Penny and the RTE Orchestra. These recordings represent one of Naxos's most successful recording cycles.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Arnold's 2nd symphony is probably his best known and most recorded symphonic work. The performance here is every bit the equal of other versions, Penny really has the measure of these symphonies and the Irish orchestra play very well. Good Naxos engineering too, the brass and percussion have that brilliant flare too their sound that is so typical of Arnold. The performance of the 1st Symphony is if anything even finer. Certainly it is the recorded version of this work that convinces me the most - the others being Handley/RPO, Hickox/LSO and Arnold/BSO. The Hickox and Handley and Penny cycles were all recorded towards the end of Sir Malcolm's life and I think I am right in thinking that he attended all the sessions. I think I am also right in saying that delighted those he was by all the cycles the Penny cycle was the one he enjoyed the most. Even if I am wrong in saying that on a personal level I think the Naxos cycle is the finest of those 3 culminating in a stunning and unmatched 9th
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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3 reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Spread the word!
11 Aug 2007
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I know it's cliche to say this, but Malcolm Arnold should be in the repertory of every orchestra. His music is perfect for the concert-going audiences who crave original, tonal, and melodic music. Arnold fulfills those requirements. But even better than that, his music doesn't sound like it as written for an 19th Century audience. This is music that sounds and speaks to our time (with no pointless avant garde-ish psycho-babble to be seen).
Arnold's first two symphonies are his most immediately accessible. Symphony No.1 speaks in a stern and heroic tone. His Symphony No.2 is the real masterpiece, however. The music starts off softly and takes us into a gorgeous development of thematic material, infused with not a small dose of Jazz-esque 1920's sexiness. The 'Vivace' movement that follows heightens the drama, the 'Lento' is very moving, and the finale will have you wanting to drive your car at top speed (please don't, though).
Andrew Penny and the Ireland orchestra play superbly, especially where it matters most: strong brass and woodwinds. I enthusiastically recommend this not only to you the purchaser, but I also recommend that you spread the word: give this CD to family, friends, and relatives for the holidays.
PROPHECY: Zadok The Priest will buy this CD!
Arnold's first two symphonies are his most immediately accessible. Symphony No.1 speaks in a stern and heroic tone. His Symphony No.2 is the real masterpiece, however. The music starts off softly and takes us into a gorgeous development of thematic material, infused with not a small dose of Jazz-esque 1920's sexiness. The 'Vivace' movement that follows heightens the drama, the 'Lento' is very moving, and the finale will have you wanting to drive your car at top speed (please don't, though).
Andrew Penny and the Ireland orchestra play superbly, especially where it matters most: strong brass and woodwinds. I enthusiastically recommend this not only to you the purchaser, but I also recommend that you spread the word: give this CD to family, friends, and relatives for the holidays.
PROPHECY: Zadok The Priest will buy this CD!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Fan of Malcolm Arnold
28 Sep 2008
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I can listen to Symphonies of Malcolm Arnold all day. The 1st & 2nd Symphonies commenced Arnold's cycle of nine symphonies. They, like the other seven symphonies, contain great music. Firstly, I will not rate the quality of the recording, because I have heard no other recordings of Arnold's Symphonies, other than under the baton of Andrew Penny. I shall only speak about my impression of the music. Arnold has the ability to intertwine two different themes, go from energetic to tranquil themes, and from loud to soft sounds, with ease. You just never really know what is going to be heard next. He can develop one theme, then go to a second theme, and then go back to the first theme, all without pausing the music. The constant anticipation of what will be heard next, is one big reason for my enjoyment of Arnold's music. The orchestration in these two symphonies, follows Arnold's pattern of using all sections of the orchestra, throughout the symphony. Again, you don't know what will happen next, with regard to the orchestration. Both symphonies are very listener friendly. Like all of Arnold's symphonies, other than the 9th, which does not follow the pattern of his other symphonies, there are lively finales. I guess that is the only thing that will not surprise you, when listening to Arnold's symphonies
Outstanding
29 Jan 2011
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I purchased the individual Naxos series CDs of Arnold symphonies 1+2, 3+4, 5+6, 7+8,9 and found the orchestra performances and recordings* were outstanding.
*My only disappointment of the series was the CD of the 9th. The spoken word is just too low. If you crank the volume up enough to hear the interview you'll potentially blow out your speakers when the music examples are played. I gave up (in my car) trying to manage the severe audio level changes.
*My only disappointment of the series was the CD of the 9th. The spoken word is just too low. If you crank the volume up enough to hear the interview you'll potentially blow out your speakers when the music examples are played. I gave up (in my car) trying to manage the severe audio level changes.
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