Gamba and the Philharmonic do Bax proud

Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharomic Orchestra perform Bax's soundtracks to Oliver Twist and the 1942 documentary, Malta GC

Composer: Bax
Repertoire: Oliver Twist and Malta GC
Artists: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Rumon Gamba
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Orchestral
Label: Chandos CHAN 10126

A chance sighting of part of the manuscript in a Brighton rubbish skip allows us to hear for the first time all the music that Bax wrote for David Lean’s classic 1948 film of Oliver Twist. Sumptuously recorded and with a fascinating booklet, though 30 brief self-contained cues (over an hour’s music) do make it a little bitty. The most memorable music is the stirring march from the 1942 film Malta GC.