John Quinn gave the new Mival disc from Signum Classics an enthusiastic lengthy review. I don't know when a disc of orchestral music from a contemporary composer of whom I had never heard has given me such pleasure and delight.
John's review is first rate and I would endorse everything he wrote.The Pastoral Symphony "Vale" is superb.
But the earlier composition "Tristan-still" has knocked me sideways and I have listened to it repeatedly. Its romantic grandeur and beauty is an absolute winner! I am not surprised that the audience at its first (and I believe only) public performance in 2003 loved the work. It is so depressing to learn that the reaction from others,critics and students, was such that Mival,Head of Composition at the Royal College of Music, gave up composing for around ten years.
It is due to the generosity of Laurence Modiano and his Charitable Trust that we now have this cd, beautifully performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra under the indefatigable Martyn Brabbins.
Mival writes genuinely beautiful music. This cd should be heard by all those who love romantic music (including all the Mahlerians who visit this site!)