Sir Arthur Sullivan called Edward German ‘the one man to follow me who has genius’. Notwithstanding German’s success in operetta, especially with Tom Jones (recorded on 866027071) and Merrie England (the suite is on 8555171), orchestral music was always central to his life. Stylistic affiliations with French and Russian music – not that common in British music of the time – are often evident. German, like Elgar, was a stylistic cosmopolitan whose music is, paradoxically, quintessentially English, and the ‘Norwich’ is indeed an outstanding late 19th-century British symphony. German gave us another superb symphony too, albeit in miniature, with his Welsh Rhapsody, a brilliant orchestral showpiece that remains his most performed extended orchestral work.

This is a re-release from Marco Polo (8223726), first released in June 1995. On its first appearance Gramophone wrote that ‘This second Marco Polo disc of Edward German’s more serious music evokes... the same warm welcome I recently gave the first.’

Andrew Penny has since 1992 made over 50 recordings for the Naxos and Marco Polo labels. Much of the repertoire is British music and includes symphonies by Arnold and Havergal Brian, film music by Vaughan Williams and Walton, theatre music by Sullivan and Holbrooke, and light music by Coates and Arnold.

His complete cycle of Arnold’s nine symphonies (8506041) was produced in time for the composer’s 80th birthday in October 2001 and became BBC Music Magazine’s top recommendation.