Rumon Gamba and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra present an album of works by Sir Granville Bantock, featuring his Hebridean Symphony, Prelude to The Bacchae of Euripides, and English Scenes. Born into a wealthy family in central London in 1868, Granville Bantock studied music at both Trinity College and at the Royal Academy of Music. Early conducting engagements took him around the world with a musical comedy troupe, before he was appointed as conductor of the New Brighton Tower concerts in Cheshire. Elgar commented that Bantock had “the most fertile musical brain of our time,” On Elgar’s recommendation, he became the first Principal of the new Midland Institute School of Music, in Birmingham, and within seven years had succeeded Elgar as Peyton Professor of Music at the University of Birmingham, a post he held until 1934. His unique musical style combines the romanticism of Wagner with influences of English and Scottish folk music, as well as the exoticism of eastern music. His many champions included Sibelius, who became the first president of the Bantock society formed after the composer’s death in 1946.