A pathetic slog
This is an astonishing symphony - grand - poignant - deeply tragic and powerful. The density of the orchestration and the profundity of thought make it a difficult symphony to bring off. Tony Rowe, probably the most hapless conductor living today, makes an colossal mess of it. You can get no more than a vague concept of the power of this work in this performance. If at all possible, try to obtain the Aries LP of the work (actually a performance by Leslie Head, a really fine Brian conductor, and the amateur, but gallant, Kensington Symphony). That performance, even with its intonation problems and mediocre sound give a much stronger impression of the greatness of this work. We know that Moscow Symphony is certainly capable of great performances, but this one (as well as the RTE Symphony's performance of Brians' 15th) is sabotaged by the man at the podium. It's a shame that one of the very greatest of 20th century symphonists should have his reputation besmirched in this fashion.
