Smyth's The Wreckers

With R3 making thing of International Women's Day — I believe they may have done this last year as well! — last weekend's Record Review featured Kate Kennedy's survey of recordings of Ethel Smyth's music.

Although Kennedy highlighted Smyth's own early recording of The Wreckers Overture — amazingly exciting and very fast-paced — she actually preferred Alexander Gibson's slower approach with the Scottish National Orchestra from the late 60s, which brought out the details of the orchestration.

I especially like the trumpet arpeggios in the opening, redolent of nothing quite so much a the best Hollywood matinee soundtracks...