Testament presents the first CD release of Havergal Brian's opera The Tigers, taken from a 1983 recording made at its BBC Radio 3 studio premiere performance. Lionel Friend conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers, together with a huge cast of some of the finest British soloists of the day. The original performance was made possible by the Havergal Brian Society's rediscovery of the full score, lost since World War II, and this release is issued with the society's generous support. The first of Brian's five operas, The Tigers is set in August 1914, at the beginning of World War I. The main action chronicles the comic misadventures in training of an Army-style 'ancient regiment' called The Tigers. Issued with a full libretto, prefaces from original BBC producer Elaine Padmore and conductor Lionel Friend, and copious documentation by Havergal Brian expert Malcolm MacDonald, The Tigers is essential for any 20th Century opera or British music enthusiast.
S**S
Monty Python and The Tigers
What a delight and treat to have this rare opera! Brian is a composer I discovered through, of course, the Gothic symphony and I was very curious to hear what he had to say in opera. This is a BBC recording made a few decades ago but the sound is lovely. The opera itself is a comic satire on war and warmongers - the ultimate result feels as if Monty Python had written and opera. Pure delight and all the singers, mostly unknown to me, are perfect. Great stuff that should be heard more often!
R**A
Get it now
A great archival performance of this opera wit a full booklet etc. Can't really be faulted as this is the only option if you want to hear this astonishing opera, and the performances are generally of very high quality as to warrant no complaints.
C**E
Give it a try
This is far more accessible than much of Brian. The libretto is rather goofy and awkward (like some of Brian's music) but ends up being entertaining and quite memorable, certainly no sillier than many of libretti set by the great bel canto composers. The score is at least interesting, often superb. Performance and recording are far better than expected. I'm sure this was put together on a shoestring but it hardly shows. We're unlikely to get another recording of this work any time soon but no matter, unlike early attempts at some of Brian's symphonies, this is far more than a stopgap. Recommended not only to Brian fans but also the unconverted.
