Well, my copy came today. And it's a very welcome addition to my collection - although there are some minus points which collectors should be aware of.
Firstly, of course, this is all virtually unknown repertoire. I suppose the main selling-point will be the Somervell Thalassa Symphony, an attractive, four-movement, 36+ minute-long symphony of a Brahmsian cut. So, how does the orchestra, the Malta Philharmonic, fare in this demanding late-Romantic repertoire? The answer, I suppose, is 'valiantly'. They are well recorded, in a generous acoustic, and there is some nice woodwind playing and strong work from the brass, although they are not always in tune; however, the biggest problem is the string section which sounds distinctly undernourished and occasionally scrawny - not exactly what is required in this sort of music. Against that, the conductor seems to have a good feel for the music and his band certainly respond enthusiastically and sensitively to his direction.
The other main problem is the presentation, with the sleevenotes contained on the inside and back cover of a single, folded sheet of paper. The Turner painting on the front is attractive, but the font size used for the notes is so small as to make them very difficult indeed to read. The error (noted by Albion) in the description of the symphony's final movement is, frankly, inexcusable.
And yet, and yet...this is a release from one of the industry's enthusiasts, David Kent-Watson, and I
for one am thoroughly glad that he made the effort to undertake the recording. As long as fellow unsung enthusiasts are aware of the compromises involved in producing this CD, they will, I am sure, thoroughly enjoy the music which it contains.
