Malcolm Arnold

This new album by the London Choral Sinfonia breathes new life into the works of Malcolm Arnold and celebrates his vibrant and masterful compositional artistry, from symphonies to choral works and concerti. It highlights the often overlooked genius of one of Britain's most versatile composers. For the album's curator and LCS director Michael Waldron, the journey began with childhood memories of playing Arnold's wind band pieces at school. During the Covid lockdown, 'The Belles of St Trinian's' was rediscovered by chance, reigniting Waldron's admiration for Arnold's music and prompting him to explore his symphonies, wind music and the fascinating organ concerto. This discovery also brought to light a number of largely unpublished choral works, including 'Laudate Dominum' and 'The John Clare Cantata', which demonstrate Arnold's remarkable ability to combine the sublime with the mysterious. Jack Liebeck and Alexander Sitkovetsky are also featured in the Concerto for Two Violins, a somewhat darker piece than the others on the album and highly contrasting, from the gripping middle section to the playful rhythms of the finale. The recording concludes with 'The Padstow Lifeboat', a dynamic arrangement that combines charm and resilience and captures the energy and wit that are characteristic of Arnold's style.