Bax: Symphonies Nos. 1-7, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Handley

Although the music of Arnold Bax is rarely heard in the concert hall these days, and indeed has found little favour with concert promoters since his death in 1953, he has always had supporters among the record companies. Foremost among these is Chandos Records, who recorded a highly regarded cycle of the symphonies with the LPO under Bryden Thomson in the 1980s, as well as many significant ‘firsts’, the remarkable Winter Legends for instance. To mark the fiftieth anniversary of Bax’s death Chandos have issued a second symphonic cycle, this time with the BBC Philharmonic under that indefatigable Baxian Vernon Handley.

In an accompanying ‘interview disc’, Handley highlights the strength of the architecture in Bax’s three-movement structures, and his performances invariably keep a long-term view in mind. Bax’s scores are peppered with alluringly scored interludes, inviting chords, charming moments that can tempt the unwary conductor into slowing down to admire the view. This is also true of Mahler, for instance, but in Mahler’s case there is a long history of performance practice, a sense of how the music should go. Handley’s long experience with these scores is everywhere apparent, and he never allows the music’s frequent moments of poetry to weaken the larger argument.

Furthermore, he elicits playing of real distinction from the BBC Philharmonic. From these performances you would never guess that this was unfamiliar repertoire. The solo woodwind and brass solos, even the tuba has his share of solo work in Bax, are brought off magnificently; particular mention should go to the unnamed first horn, who brings real eloquence to the beautiful, and fearsomely high, solo in the epilogue of the Sixth Symphony. What a marvellous work that is!

Production values are high, with excellent sound and attractive packaging as well as the interview disc mentioned earlier. These recordings are unlikely to be superseded for many years to come.