Audition: Bax - Symphony No. 3 RSNO/Lloyd Jones Naxos

 Audition: Bax - Symphony No. 3

Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Lloyd Jones

Released on the Naxos label in 1999

This Naxos disc is very well recorded, at the Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow.  Lloyd Jones gets the basics right: natural balances, wonderful dynamics and beautiful clear, acoustic. It’s attractive and appealing as a reading despite the unfamiliarity of the work for many listeners.  Bax’s orchestral output was prodigious and almost all of it noted for its atmosphere and drama.  It has moments of natural power and beauty but also has a part for anvil. 

The symphony - premiered by Barbirolli and the Halle in 1944 - is compact  and some formidable writing in classical form.  As far as I can tell it has been recorded 11 times including the premier.  It’s not exactly neglecting but it is a symphony that tends to slip under the radar.

David Lloyd Jones gives the symphony a good deal of care, following it’s large scale plan and the intimate relationships of melody, drama and structure.  The motto opening - on bassoon - is clear here but there is something tensile and troubling and in this wee melody especially at the beginning of the final movement.

This orchestra is in its element in this kind of repertoire - and the conductor is a great advocate.  Balances the orchestral lines very well. This is especially important for the percussion and the divided strings.  Nothing to complain about

Overall this is a very fine reading worthy for more attention.

Performance 10 out of 10

Interpretation 10 out of 10

Recording 10 out of 10.