Faust and Symphonies 3/17 CDs now available

Martyn Brabbins' two-disc set of Faust from Dutton and symphonies 3 & 17 under Stanley Pope on Heritage are now available.

Posted: 11 February 2022

The opening of the fiftieth anniversary year of Havergal Brian's death has come with the two major CD releases from the Dutton and Heritage labels, both made possible by sponsorship from the Havergal Brian Society. From Dutton, Havergal Brian Society President, Martyn Brabbins conducts forces of English National Opera in a stunning premiere performance of Brian's fourth opera Faust, available as a two-SACD set with a comprehensive libretto and detailed notes by Brian expert and renowned British composer John Pickard.

Dutton Faust

Faust is sung by tenor Peter Hoare, Mephistopheles by bass-baritone David Soar and Gretchen by soprano Allison Cook. The organ was played by Iain Farrington, and the chorus and orchestra of English National Opera are conducted by Martyn Brabbins. The recording took place in Abbey Road's famous Studio 1 in August 2019, with the organ and wind machine parts recorded in April 2021 at St George's Headstone, Harrow.

The set is presented in SACD format enabling CD playback on any normal CD player, and high-resolution multi-channel playback using a dedicated SACD player.

From Heritage comes the release of another two Brian first performances, Symphonies 3 and 17 from January 1974 and June 1976 respectively. These performances circulated for many years as 'bootleg' off-air LP records of dubious quality, but this is the first opportunity to hear these two symphonies anew in this magnificent transfer made from the original BBC master tapes.

Heritage Pope

In symphony no. 3, the New Philharmonia Orchestra was conducted by Stanley Pope, with Ronald Stevenson and David Wilde (pianos), and in symphony no. 17, Pope conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Both performances were recorded at the BBC's Maida Vale Studio 1.