Havergal Brian, the composer, was self-taught and came from a working-class family in Staffordshire, England.
Compositional Technique
After his first large symphonies, Brian's later 28 symphonies were typically compressed and concise, often featuring greatly enlarged percussion sections.
Performer Biography
Alexander Walker, the conductor, was awarded the Elgar Medal in 2017 by the Elgar Society for his work championing the composer's music.
Performer Biography
The New Russia State Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1990, is directed by Yuri Bashmet, who aims for each concert to feel as if the music is being created anew.
Notable Performances
Symphony No. 8 was the first of Brian's symphonies he ever heard performed, at the age of 78, by the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult.
Recording & Production
This album completes the commercial recording of all 32 of Havergal Brian's symphonies.
Composition History
Brian's first symphony, the immense Gothic Symphony, was completed when he was 51 years old.
