Alwyn: Symphony 2 / Overture to a Masque / The Magic Island / Overture, Derby Day / Fanfare for a Joyful Occasion
Richard Hickox's reading of Alwyn's Second Symphony is a bit slower than  Alwyn's take on Lyrita 228. With his more relaxed pace, Hickox gets much darker  colors out of the symphony; yet because of the luxurious Chandos sound, it never  seems either too intellectual or too remote. The companion pieces show Alwyn in  a much lighter mood, especially Overture to a Masque and Overture "Derby Day."  In Symphonic Prelude "The Magic Island," Alwyn makes use of his own 12-tone  technique but still manages to keep the work tonal overall. The Chandos series  also incorporates Alwyn's own oil paintings for their booklet covers. This is  what Chandos historically has done best.--Paul Cook