Bax: Symphony No. 4 and Overture to a Picaresque Comedy
Bax: Symphony No. 4 and Overture to a Picaresque Comedy
Bax: Symphony No. 4 and Overture to a Picaresque Comedy
Arnold Bax remains one of the most rewarding discoveries in British classical music, a composer of extraordinary imagination whose symphonies pulse with colour, drama, and a deeply personal voice. This Naxos recording presents his Fourth Symphony alongside two compelling companion works, performed with authority and conviction by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under David Lloyd-Jones.
The Fourth Symphony, composed between 1930 and 1931, is among Bax's most concentrated and powerful works. Its three movements move from brooding intensity to moments of luminous beauty, reflecting the turbulent emotional landscape that characterised so much of his output. Nympholept, a tone poem of haunting, impressionistic atmosphere, and the witty, irrepressible Overture to a Picaresque Comedy complete a programme that showcases the full range of this underappreciated master.
Tracklist
- Overture to a Picaresque Comedy
- Nympholept
- Symphony No. 4
- I. Allegro moderato
- II. Lento
- III. Allegro
Performers: Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by David Lloyd-Jones
Label: Naxos
Format & Dimensions
Standard jewel case CD. Dimensions: 142 mm × 125 mm × 10 mm (5.6 in × 4.9 in × 0.4 in). Weight: approximately 100 g (3.5 oz).
An essential recording for lovers of British orchestral music and anyone ready to discover Bax for the first time.