Bringing Naxos’ Bax symphony cycle to a triumphant conclusion, David Lloyd-Jones leads a terrific performance of the oft-maligned Seventh Symphony, a work of great lyric beauty and textural and harmonic simplicity compared to the six symphonies that precede it. Adopting tempos in the outer movements that are relatively swift but always steady, Lloyd-Jones gives the opening the thrust it needs to carry its 14 minutes along almost effortlessly, while the Theme and Variations finale has similar cogency and continuity. The central Lento, a throwback to the style and spirit of the composer’s earlier tone poems, reveals a sweetness that never turns cloying. Raymond Leppard made an excellent premiere recording of this piece on a now-out-of-print Lyrita CD (formerly LP), but it is not notably better than this newcomer, while Thomson’s significantly flabbier Chandos edition doesn’t compare.
Lloyd-Jones also delivers an extremely fine performance of Tintagel, which benefits from the recording’s big dynamic range. As in all of the performances in this series, the music enjoys the generous support of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s brilliant horns and powerful trombones (gratifyingly weightier than their London Philharmonic competition on Chandos), making those seaside vistas at the beginning and end especially thrilling. Although prominent timpani sometimes threatens to dominate the most heavily scored moments in both works, it’s impossible not to enjoy this energetic and vital final installment in what is now the best Bax cycle available at any price. Of course Handley’s new set on Chandos is waiting in the wings, but it will have to be extraordinary to displace Lloyd-Jones and Naxos at the top of the heap.
