Dutton Epoch’s presents the world premiere recording of Stanley Bate’s coruscating wartime Third Symphony. This work is quite a find, and if you like Vaughan Williams or Walton you will revel in Bate’s lyrical and dramatic Symphony, commandingly played by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates. With it comes Erik Chisholm’s grandly impressive and colourful tone poem Pictures from Dante (1948), possibly Chisholm’s greatest work – a brilliant orchestral study in two movements with resonances of Ravel, Holst and Celtic tradition. The disc is completed with the ninth contribution to Dutton Epoch’s celebrated series of Richard Arnell’s music. This comes in the form of Arnell’s two vivid tributes to the filmmaker Robert Flaherty, the prelude The Black Mountain and the extended tone poem or ‘Impression’ Robert Flaherty, in which Arnell, in some of his most romantic writing, reflects the Hollywood music of his time.

World premiere recordings