Brian
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Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic do bustle very well, and the Chandos microphones prove particularly good at pinpointing details like a tuba's lugubrious waddle. —
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Havergal Brian: The Gothic Symphony
RecommendedSusan Gritton (soprano), Christine Rice (mezzo), Peter Auty (tenor), Alastair Miles (bass), David Goode (organ)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Concert Orchestra, various choirs, Martyn Brabbins
the best [recording] yet. There's an ongoing buzz of Proms atmosphere that grips from start to finish; and the recorded sound succeeds phenomenally at somehow fitting Brian's hugest climaxes... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 28th November 2011
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Gramophone Magazine, February 2012, Editor's Choice
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Havergal Brian: Symphony No. 1 'The Gothic'
Jane Manning, Shirley Minty, John Mitchinson, David Thomas,
London Symphony Orchestra, various choirs, Ole Schmidt
Ole Schmidt successfully drives the 718 performers through its demanding and immersive score, but at times, particularly in the Te Deum, vocal performances sacrifice clarity for drama —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, February 2026, Reissue/Archive Issue of the Month
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Special offer. Brian & Cooke - Symphonies
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Myer Fredman, Nicholas Braithwaite
Havergal Brian's Sixth and Sixteenth Symphonies were recorded in April 1973. The Sixth (1948), incorporating material from an abandoned opera on Synge's Deirdre of the Sorrows, is highly illustrative... —
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New. Havergal Brian: Complete Choral Songs, Vol. 2
Gavin Roberts, Finchley Children’s Music Group, John Evanson, Peter Broadbent, Grace Rossiter, Joyful Company of Singers
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Special offer. Brian: Symphonies Nos. 6, 28, 29 & 31
New Russia State Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Walker
My expectations of high performance quality were fully met by these gripping accounts. Walker achieves extraordinarily intense playing that illuminates this music to its best advantage. —
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Havergal Brian: The Cenci
Helen Field (Beatrice Cenci), David Wilson-Johnson (Count Cenci), Ingveldur Yr Jonsdóttir (Lucretia), Justin Lavender (Orsino/Bernardo), Stuart Kale (Cardinal Camillo)
Millennium Sinfonia, James Kelleher
Helen Field is a radiant Beatrice, brilliantly capturing that paradoxical blend of innocence and implacable desire for revenge. She serves as a perfect foil for the malevolence spit out by David... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, August 2024, Archive Issue of the Month
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Brian: Agamemnon & Symphonies Nos 6 & 12
RecommendedJohn Findon (Agamemnon), Eleanor Dennis (Clytemnestra), Stephanie Wake-Edwards (Cassandra), Robert Murray (Watchman), Clive Bayley (Herald/Old Man)
English National Opera Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
If anyone can convince us of the worth of this one-act drama of Aeschylus’s tragedy of Agamemnon’s last bloody bath it's Martyn Brabbins, a doughty champion of Brian’s music...All credit to... —
Awards:
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2025
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Special offer. Havergal Brian: Symphonies Nos. 29, 30, 31 & 32
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Myer Fredman, Charles Mackerras, Lionel Friend
Philharmonia Orchestra
The single-movement No. 31 is a delightfully conversational free fantasy in the hands of Charles Mackerras, while No. 32 is no symphonic farewell, still full of energy and invention. —
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Havergal Brian: Faust
Peter Hoare, (Faust), David Soar (Mephistopheles), Allison Cook (Gretchen), William Morgan (Raphael), Robert Hayward (Gabriel), Elgan Llyr Thomas (Michael), Simon Bailey (Der Herr [God], Bösergeist [Evil Spirit]), David Ireland (Erdgeist [Earth Spirit]), Katie Coventry (Schüler [Student]), Nicholas...
The opera is a remarkable achievement...The central roles are all well done. Tenor Peter Hoare summons up the entire range and expressive variety required for Faust. David Soar’s voluminous... —
