HAVERGAL BRIAN (1876-1972): Symphony No. 4 "Das Siegeslied" for Soprano, Chorus and Orchestra, Symphony No. 12.

Description: The grim, barbaric splendor and wild, expressive contrasts with the music disrupted by chromaticism and dissonance of the 49-minute Fourth (1932-33) seem to presage the apocalypse which was just beginning in Germany at the time (oddly, just as Brian was picked up by a German publisher). The Twelfth (just 11 minutes long), of 1957, was inspired by Aeschylus' Agamemnon and is an excellent example of the compression and concision of Brian's late style. German-English texts. Jana Valáskova (soprano), Slovak Philharmonic Choir, Slovak National Opera Chorus, Echo Youth Choir, Cantus Mixed Choir, Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra; Adrian Leaper. Original 1992 Marco Polo release.