Charles O’Brien: Complete Orchestral Music, Volume One
The rediscovery of the music of the Edinburgh composer Charles O’Brien (1882–1968) continues with his most important work, his only symphony, a full-scale Romantic score in the tradition of Schumann and Brahms, powerful and lyrical by turn. It is coupled here with the later, more extended of the two versions O’Brien made of his heartening, Walter Scott-inspired overture Ellangowan, resplendent with a big Scottish tune which lingers in the memory.
Liepaja Symphony Orchestra; Paul Mann, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
- Ellangowan: Concert Overture, Op. 12
- Symphony in F minor, Op. 23: I Con moto moderato e serioso
- Symphony in F minor, Op. 23: II Menuetto
- Symphony in F minor, Op. 23: III Andante sostenuto e cantabile
- Symphony in F minor, Op. 23: IV Allegro con moto
Classical Lost and Found :
‘RECOMMENDED
… During his career as an organist, conductor, pianist and teacher, he would write a small number of symphonic pieces. World premiere recordings of his two most important ones are on this disc. …
O’Brien couldn’t have better advocates than conductor Paul Mann and the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Mann gets performances from these talented musicians brimming with an enthusiasm that turns what would normally be an enjoyable listening experience into an extraordinary one.’
—Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found, August 2015
Fanfare Magazine :
‘… O’Brien’s only symphony is … a work that Mendelssohn and Reinecke would have understood as well. … The brief (7:13) Menuetto has genuine charm and features some extremely clever woodwind writing—this from a man who also clearly knew his Mendelssohn like a book—while the slow movement, “over which the spirit of Elgar gently hovers” (to quote Mann again) is both eloquent and deeply affecting, though the model here seems less Elgar than Parry (which makes perfect sense of course, as Parry—like O’Brien—was an unapologetic Brahmsian). …
Even more attractive is the 18-minute Ellangowan Overture… O’Brien’s music is full of Highland rhythms and folk-like themes.
Charles O’Brien: Complete Orchestral Music, Volume One is yet another quiet triumph for one of the most fearlessly enterprising labels on earth.’
—Jim Svejda, Fanfare Magazine Magazine, January/February 2016
MusicWeb International :
‘The F minor works very well, and is beautifully played and paced, and finely recorded as well, and is thus shown to its best advantage. As O’Brien’s only symphony it’s a worthy discovery for admirers of British music, who will await volume two with enthusiasm.’
—Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb International
Classical Lost and Found :
‘[Paul Mann] also wrote the album’s superb program notes that include detailed analyses of these works. Consequently, rather than second guessing Maestro Mann, we’ll limit ourselves to general comments about them. […]
conductor Paul Mann and the talented musicians of the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra do well by O’Brien. They give exhilarating yet sensitive accounts of these selections, making this another outstanding disc of discovery.’
—Bob McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found