- Conductor: Richard Hickox
- Composer: Arthur Sullivan
- Audio CD (19 Oct 2000)
- SPARS Code: DDD
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Chandos
- ASIN: B00005043B
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 103,515 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
BBC Music Magazine
No one would really regret Arthur Sullivan's transformation into half of G, but how much of a 'serious' composer he might otherwise have become is a perennially fascinating question. The E major Symphony from his early twenties is a splendid work in its way: almost (if not quite) as good as Bizet's youthful symphony which it somewhat resembles, certainly a spirited effort for a young Englishman composing before Brahms and Tchaikovsky had got into their stride. If it's rather Mendelssohnian that's only to be expected in the England of the 1860s, and because it's consciously an 'Irish' Symphony in the way that Mendelssohn's Third is his 'Scottish'.
What emerges strongly in this enjoyable disc, however, is how much more than Mendelssohn there was in Sullivan's make-up. The In memoriam overture, before it loses its plot in over-the-top sententiousness, organ and all, is practically Schumannesque, with shades of Manfred. Most fascinating of all, Sullivan's official Op. 1, his incidental music to Shakespeare's Tempest written at the age of 18 under the immediate impression of hearing Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream music, proves less Mendelssohnian than proto-Wagnerian in the larger scene-setting pieces, while the charming dance numbers look forward already to the Savoy operas.
Hickox directs first-rate performances, full of colour and rhythmic life, in a nicely resonant acoustic that suits the young Sullivan's astonishing orchestral skill. The Symphony comes over as a livelier and more characterful work than in Groves's long-established EMI recording; the CPO rival is hardly in the running.
Performance ****
Sound ****
© BBC Music Magazine 2001
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiasts, listening to the first minute of the first track will have no trouble identifying the composer. This is clearly music by the English composer Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900), who had a gift for melody and whose music is always "on its best Sunday church attendance behaviour". A further minute's listening will suggest the music of Mendelssohn. The latter composer's incidental music to Shakespeare's "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream" inspired the eighteen year old Sullivan to write incidental music for another Shakespeare play, "The Tempest", the second item heard on this top quality, 77 minute CD. The so-called "Irish" Symphony dates from Sullivan's early 20s. It comprises the major item here. Its significance is stressed in the excellent notes provided by Andrew Lamb, who points out that at the time Sullivan composed his symphony Tchaikovsky, Brahms and Dvorak had barely begun their symphonic careers.
All these works pre-date Sullivan's career as a collaborator with W S Gilbert, a career which no doubt paid the bills better than these works did, but which prompts regrets that Sullivan never achieved the promise these early orchestral works held.
Meanwhile, those who add this CD to their trolley need have no regrets. It supersedes all other recordings of these works I have heard.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Born in 1842, Arthur Sullivan took London by storm in the 1860's with a string of serious compositions, before his collaborations with W.S.Gilbert diverted him to their ever popular comic operas. So - did Britain lose a great composer?
These early works, from Sullivan's 19th to 24th years show a remarkable young composer at work. The Earliest work here is his incidental music for Shakespeare's The Tempest, written when he was a student at the Leipzig Conservatory. This is well crafted music showing a masters handing of an orchestra. The style is similar to the waltz kings of Vienna, and French ballet composers of the time like Delibes. Conductor Richard Hickox, aided by the Chandos sound engineers, gives full voice to the lush nature of the music. The BBC Philharmonic orchestra acquit themselves well.
The first work on the disc is the all-guns-blazing In Memoriam overture. Anyone expecting this to be suitably reserved and respectful should take a look at how Victorians constructed their memorials - for instance the Albert Memorial. This is vigorous music that works it self up to - well - a tempestuous finale - whereupon a swaggering march takes over. Elgar himself never mustered more pomp and circumstance. Here we have a powerful, enjoyable performance of the work.
The last work on the disc is the best known. Sullivan's Symphony in E major - known as his Irish Symphony. It is given a fair performance here, in similar generous , lush style to the other works on the disc. It is fine as far as it goes. However, it has now been trumped by David Lloyd-Jones masterly interpretation on Naxos. With a lithe, spare style, and a perfect way with the music's textures and rhythms,.Lloyd Jones locates the Irish heart, and deep rooted Irish musical inspiration of this work. Here Richard Hickox lush, widescreen interpretation makes it sound like a pair for Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony. Yes, there are plenty of lessons learned from Mendelssohn here, but the music is looking to pastures new, this over rich interpretation holds it back. Still, the remarkable music of the final movement does shine through, in which Sullivan shows that had the melodic, rhythmic and dramatic gifts of late period Dvorak: 25 years before Dvorak achieved them.
Overall this is a fine disc of excellent music. Yes. Arthur Sullivan had all the gifts necessary to lead the revival of serious British classical music. However, he also had just the right gifts to create the music for the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas. They are remarkable works, and I would not trade them for a legacy of Sullivan concert works. Also, would Sullivan actually have written other music? As he grew older he grew lazier, often producing the music for Gilbert's words at the last possible minute. The Gilbert and Sullivan Operas may not have been the distraction that kept him from more serious composition, they may have been the impetus he needed to propel him to compose.
This is a valuable disc, worth buying in its own right. But you should also hear David Lloyd-Jones interpretation of the Irish Symphony on Naxos.
These early works, from Sullivan's 19th to 24th years show a remarkable young composer at work. The Earliest work here is his incidental music for Shakespeare's The Tempest, written when he was a student at the Leipzig Conservatory. This is well crafted music showing a masters handing of an orchestra. The style is similar to the waltz kings of Vienna, and French ballet composers of the time like Delibes. Conductor Richard Hickox, aided by the Chandos sound engineers, gives full voice to the lush nature of the music. The BBC Philharmonic orchestra acquit themselves well.
The first work on the disc is the all-guns-blazing In Memoriam overture. Anyone expecting this to be suitably reserved and respectful should take a look at how Victorians constructed their memorials - for instance the Albert Memorial. This is vigorous music that works it self up to - well - a tempestuous finale - whereupon a swaggering march takes over. Elgar himself never mustered more pomp and circumstance. Here we have a powerful, enjoyable performance of the work.
The last work on the disc is the best known. Sullivan's Symphony in E major - known as his Irish Symphony. It is given a fair performance here, in similar generous , lush style to the other works on the disc. It is fine as far as it goes. However, it has now been trumped by David Lloyd-Jones masterly interpretation on Naxos. With a lithe, spare style, and a perfect way with the music's textures and rhythms,.Lloyd Jones locates the Irish heart, and deep rooted Irish musical inspiration of this work. Here Richard Hickox lush, widescreen interpretation makes it sound like a pair for Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony. Yes, there are plenty of lessons learned from Mendelssohn here, but the music is looking to pastures new, this over rich interpretation holds it back. Still, the remarkable music of the final movement does shine through, in which Sullivan shows that had the melodic, rhythmic and dramatic gifts of late period Dvorak: 25 years before Dvorak achieved them.
Overall this is a fine disc of excellent music. Yes. Arthur Sullivan had all the gifts necessary to lead the revival of serious British classical music. However, he also had just the right gifts to create the music for the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas. They are remarkable works, and I would not trade them for a legacy of Sullivan concert works. Also, would Sullivan actually have written other music? As he grew older he grew lazier, often producing the music for Gilbert's words at the last possible minute. The Gilbert and Sullivan Operas may not have been the distraction that kept him from more serious composition, they may have been the impetus he needed to propel him to compose.
This is a valuable disc, worth buying in its own right. But you should also hear David Lloyd-Jones interpretation of the Irish Symphony on Naxos.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I don't have a lot to add to other reviews and generally agree with points made. A fifth star is withheld only because of the shortcomings of the over-inflated In Memoriam Overture. The Tempest music makes me wonder if Sullivan would have been a prominent ballet composer if he'd been born on the other side of the Channel. Congratulations to Richard Hickox and the BBCPO for an enterprising programme of excellent performances.
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