01. - 04. Symphony No. 1 in A-flat major, op.55 [51'57]
02. - 05. (orchestrated by Gordon Jacob) Organ Sonata in G major, op.28 [26'05]
BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Richard Hickox
Chandos SACD CHSA 5049 (recorded in May 2006; SACD/CD issued 2007)
(digital download; flacs, booklet, cover and inlay scans)
Recording venue: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea
Recording engineer: Ralph Couzens; Producer Brian Couzens
In the past, I have not been a great fan of the late Richard Hickox, other than as a choral conductor, but I have been more recently impressed by his Vaughan Williams and Elgar symphony recordings that I have heard. Unfortunately, even though this recording was issued as a hybrid SACD/CD, Chandos do not make a high-resolution download available.
This is a fine performance of the symphony with generally fairly urgent tempi - although (as with most interpreters) often broader than the composer's own. Again Hickox divides the first and second violins, left and right - always an advantage. Hickox also manages the 'big tune' in the middle of the finale extremely well. I prefer this recording and performance to Chandos' more recent release with Edward Gardner and the BBC Symphony. The attractions of this release are substantially aided by the inclusion of the infrequently performed but excellent orchestration of the Organ Sonata by Gordon Jacob.
Even in standard CD quality, there is excellent sound recording here and Hickox again gets excellent playing from his orchestra in the fine acoustic of Brangwyn Hall.
Download from MEGA.