Parry: Symphonic Works: Symphony No 2 Cambridge; Symphonic Variations; etc

"Penny's lively, but full and weighty Second is one of the best Parry recordings."
- American Record Guide (Roger Hecht), July-August, 2000

"Nearly an hour of Parry at budget price worth the risk, and no-one is likely to feel disappointed...the playing of this fine orchestra is sprightly, fresh and vital, and the disc is well planned as a short self-contained concert. With no identical coupling this is warmly recommended."
- Classic CD - Oct. 1996

"an encouraging start to Naxos's projected Parry cycle which, given the modest asking price, many Anglophiles will surely want to investigate."
- Gramophone - Oct. 1996

As part of the Naxos anthology of British music, we start our look at the music of Sir Hubert Parry with his Second Symphony - generally regarded as his finest - which has the subtitle 'Cambridge'. Written in 1883 and revised in 1887 it was to be the prototype for the great symphonies to come from Elgar and Vaughan Williams.

That they have overshadowed his music is cruel, for here is an outstanding score more rural than cosmopolitan Britain, but the sheer melodic beauty makes it a work we should treasure. If this is his symphonic masterpiece, his Symphonic Variations must come a close second, again packed full of interesting music.

Andrew Penny who has enjoyed so much international acclaim with his recordings of Malcolm Anrold, conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra who make their Naxos debut. This is just the first in a whole series of discs from this outstanding orchestra