Audition: Bax: Symphony No. 3 - Sargent (aircheck?)

BBC Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Malcolm Sargent

Bax Symphony 3 conducted by Sir Malcolm SargentYouTube · Richard Adams29 Mar 2020

Sargent isn’t a name I expected to crop up in my search for online performances of Bax’s most popular symphony. His impressive recorded catalogue of British music suggests he only recorded Bax’s Coronation March.

Sargent was a renowned conductor over a huge range of composers and compositions. Technically he was astute and expert with both orchestral and especially choral forces, even if often the butt of Sir Thomas Beechams humour. He was a spectacular conductor on his day - as his Eroica and Sibelius 5 recordings attest.

I enjoyed this performance of Bax Sym No 3 because of the atmosphere he brings and clear sense of direction in the reading. He pushes through the fast paced music. But he holds the delicate instrumental balances marvellously in such a busy and labile score.

The recording is generally good especially where modern recordings miss percussion, harps and celesta. Sargent finds a way to balance the details but move things on..

I particularly like those pools of calm tranquility Bax creates and Sargent enjoys too. Never overstaying and then pushing on with a febrile muscularity heightened by the BBC Symphonies superb playing.

Overall it’s a clearer vision than we get in some more recent recordings.

Performance: 10 out of 10

Interpretation: 10 out of 10

Recording: 7 out of 10