Notable Performances - most recent first
2011
17th July 2011
Below are unique videos of both the performance and the rehearsal of The Gothic at the Royal Albert Hall, in London. Also, a link to YouTube where you can hear the entire concert and excerpts that were recorded live.
Over 900 performers were assembled for this BBC Proms 2011 concert. This was a rare performance of Havergal Brian's Symphony No.1 in D minor. Although tickets for this Prom sold out within 24 hours, we are fortunate that Hyperion Records Ltd issued a recording of the concert on CD.
2010
22 December 2010
Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane, Australia. John Curro and the QYS Alumni Orchestra and Gothic Chorus. more here>
1980
25 May 1980
Unique footage of the performance of Brian's Gothic live
at the Royal Albert Hall BBC Proms
1 of 2 17th July 2011. A fragment from the sixth movement
Unique footage of the closing minutes of Havergal Brian's 'Gothic' Symphony
live at the Proms 2011 together with the 9 minute standing ovation
that followed. Royal Albert Hall, London
2 of 2 17th July 2011. Closing minutes
Unique footage of parts of the final rehearsal, 17 July 2011
The total forces numbered more than 930.
Martyn Brabbins, Conductor
Susan Gritton (sop), Christine Rice (m-sop), Peter Auty (ten), Alastair Miles (bass), David Goode (organ), Eltham College Boys’ Choir, CBSO Youth Chorus, Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs, Brighton Festival Chorus, Huddersfield Choral Society, London Symphony Chorus, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Bach Choir, Cor Caerdydd, BBC National Orchestra of Wales & BBC Concert Orchestra.
An audio recording of the entire concert is available on YouTube
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"The BBC Proms live recording of Havergal Brian's "Gothic" Symphony No.1 is as thrilling as it is bizarre" Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian
"Martyn Brabbins and his hordes did a truly magnificent job, and those who were there are unlikely to forget the experience" The Guardian
"Far and away the finest [performance] it has received. Hyperion s release is a perfect one, of a great event, a magisterial work and an encapsulation of the enormous difficulties of the project as a whole" Gramophone
"Greatest Chord Ever" sung by a choir. Symphony No. 1 - "Gothic", Part 2: V. Judex: Adagio Molto e Religioso: Section 6" Comment by Ryan Reed
Listen to it here > https://youtu.be/garfyGDxxPc?si=Q0qxmeN0N-q7QIMD&t=883
"This passage cadences sadly into E minor, and then all hell is let loose. The full brass of orchestra and bands with six tympanists and much percussion unleash two diabolically dissonant assaults upon the ear in a style unparalleled ... and provoke two agonised choral cries of 'Non-confundar in aeternum' (Let me never be confounded/confused). The joyous visions of the earlier parts ... vanish into utter darkness. The profoundly moving coda with its impassioned cello line is as desolate a cry from the depths as in any music. The final choral murmur in E major serene and unaffected, is a far-off mysterious radiance that "abides as a light in the night." Excerpts from the Programme Notes by Malcom MacDonald for The Stoke Gothic.
Listen to it here > https://youtu.be/5N1qQd4wT3M?si=JhsN6TR6cE7XsyMd&t=1706
22 December 2010
Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane, Australia. John Curro and the QYS Alumni Orchestra and Gothic Chorus. more here>
1980
25 May 1980
Royal Albert Hall, London.
Live broadcast BBC Radio 3, repeated 14 May 1995.
1978
21 May 1978
1976
8 September 1976
Not a performance of the Gothic Symphony but a play. The Victoria Theatre, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent presented a play called "AWKWARD CUSS" which celebrated the life of Stoke-born Havergal Brian. It featured The Gothic.
1966
30 October 1966
The first professional performance of the work took place at the Royal Albert Hall mainly by BBC Third Programme forces under the baton of Sir Adrian Boult.
Download the Programme produced for the concert pdf here> (poor quality scan)
Live broadcast BBC Radio 3, repeated 14 May 1995.
London Symphony Orchestra.
Conductor: Ole Schmidt. Leader: Irvine Arditti plus many many others.
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| Details of the Gothic performance 25 May 1980 |
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| Review of the performance Many thanks go to Eddie Hewison for finding this |
21 May 1978
The STOKE GOTHIC. Victoria Hall, Hanley.
1976
8 September 1976
Not a performance of the Gothic Symphony but a play. The Victoria Theatre, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent presented a play called "AWKWARD CUSS" which celebrated the life of Stoke-born Havergal Brian. It featured The Gothic.
View programme here>
30 October 1966
The first professional performance of the work took place at the Royal Albert Hall mainly by BBC Third Programme forces under the baton of Sir Adrian Boult.
Gothic Symphony - 'Marching Song'.
The setting of the 'Te Deum' is in three parts. In the last of these the Marching Song begins
and Havergal Brian introduces the tune heard in this extract, on YouTube.
The choir alternates between singing wordless "Ah" and "La-la-la-la"
and endless repetitions of the words
"Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum et in saeculum saeculi."
Download the Programme produced for the concert pdf here> (poor quality scan)
1961
24 June 1961 - Premiere performance.
Central Hall, Westminster, London
Bryan Fairfax, conductor
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| Programme for the premiere of The Gothic Front cover and page 3, of 8 pages 24 June 1961 Many thanks go to Eddie Hewison for finding this |
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| Programme note by Robert Simpson Page 4 extract |
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| Programme note by Robert Simpson Page 5 extract |
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| Programme note by Robert Simpson Page 7 extract |