Good Music
Seigfrieds Hammer | Aurora, CO USA | 10/22/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Sir Charles Hubert H. Parry composed beautiful music. It was neither revolutionary nor common. It was the music of his day and it is very, very good. Although he is not in the same class as Elgar, this set is worth owning. The London Philharmonic conducted by Matthias Bamert does an excellent job. The performances of the symphonies are grand. You will enjoy."
A neglected genius
Andy Barrow | Southsea, UK | 03/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Charles Parry - the 'English Brahms' - had the misfortune to be contemporary with Elgar and is known, even in the UK, for little more than his beautiful setting of William Blake's poem, 'Jerusalem', the UK's alternative National Anthem. He's far too easily dismissed as Victorian / Edwardian conservative. Born into a wealthy family he was a life-long radical, socialist and atheist. His music is well worth exploring, particularly the fabulous Fourth Symphony which is a dark, majestic piece, contemporary with Brahms' Fourth and sharing the same key and world view. The first movement of the Fourth is as fine as any by Elgar and contains, in the coda, Parry's most troubled writing. It took a Finn - Matthias Bamert - to bring these fine symphonies to a wider audience, but work still remains to be done."
Five Glorious Symphonies
Hegelian | Concord, MA USA | 04/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Don't miss these magnificent and sadly neglected symphonies in excellent performances and good sound. There are a few other recordings (the 2nd on Naxos, for example, and an old record of the 5th by Boult), but these either hold their own or beat out all competition. These works radiate a joy in being alive and are unmistakably English. If you love English music, you will love them."