Utwory na płycie:

• CHAN10550

Rinaldo & Armida
Electra
Homage to the Queen - Suite
Sweeney Todd Concert Suite

Disc of the Month

Rumon Gamba: ‘Having recorded symphonies and film music by Malcolm Arnold and knowing how well

his music is received by audiences around the world, I was surprised that there was no disc dedicated

solely to his music for the ballet. The four scores featured here on this disc have such strong musical

ideas and dramatic narrative, to say nothing of their sheer beauty and passion, that they come alive as

pieces of music in their own right. And such contrasts on this programme – brutality and energy

(Electra), sweeping romanticism (Rinaldo and Armida) and humour in all its guises (Sweeney Todd). I

particularly enjoyed recording Rinaldo and Armida which deserves its place in the repertoire alongside

those ballet scores we hear all too often in the concert hall.’

Arnold’s first ballet score, Homage to the Queen was commissioned to honour the Queen’s Coronation

and performed by the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden in 1953. The Times wrote of the 2006 Royal Ballet

revival: “Malcolm Arnold’s score is rich in majesty and filled with colour. A pleasure to hear it again.”

The ballet suite begins with a Prelude strongly reminiscent of the ceremonial idiom of William Walton’s

Coronation marches. The initial success of Homage quickly led to another ballet commission for Arnold.

In 1954 he composed Rinaldo and Armida, a one-act ‘dance drama’, and guest-conducted the first

performance himself at the Royal Opera House on January 1955. Rinaldo was based on an episode from

Torquato Tasso’s poem Ierusalemme liberate (1581). Electra, which here receives is premiere recording

was commissioned by the Royal Ballet and first performed in 1963. This work allowed Arnold to tap the

darker side of his musical personality, as evidenced in several of his mature symphonies.

Chandos is well known for its recordings of Malcolm Arnold’s music – indeed, they are generally

acknowledged by most to rank amongst the finest available – and the recordings of Arnold’s film music

are best sellers.

This unique anthology of ballet music should prove as popular, for the music is similarly illustrative and

entertaining. Few of the ballets are represented in the catalogue and one has never before been recorded

(Elektra). However they aptly demonstrate Malcolm Arnold’s versatility, covering a broad range of

musical moods.

Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006)

Ballet Music

Rinaldo & Armida / Electra / Homage to the

Queen: Suite / Sweeney Todd Concert Suite

BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba

CHAN 10550

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