Walton: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2; Orb and Sceptre

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra presents its first recording led by Kazuki Yamada who took the helm as music director in 2023, continuing the work of such eminent predecessors as Sir Simon Rattle, Sakari Oramo, Andris Nelsons, and Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla. The rogram, recorded live at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, showcases three works by William Walton: the Coronation March Orb and …

Honey-coloured Cow: Moosic for Bassoon

From TV theme tunes to a folk-inspired “circle dance on seven notes” by Villa-Lobos, Laurence Perkins, one of Britain’s best-known solo bassoonists, presents a pleasing miscellany of composers and works demonstrating the expressive potential of the bassoon. Perkins gets sterling support from a wealth of fine musicians and ensembles on his eighth album for Hyperion. The program covers a century …