In Symphony no.6 ‘Last Letter’, Ross Harris explores settings of four poems by Vincent O’Sullivan, interlinking them with three musical interludes. The darkness of the subject matter draws from the composer music of powerful and at times despairing intensity. Face was written as the First World War centenary approached its conclusion and confronts the trauma of facial injuries suffered by soldiers in the conflict. Choruses and solos are punctuated by orchestral commentary, the music freely mixing tonal and atonal elements to heighten the expressive gravity of the personal tragedies depicted.

This is fourth in an ongoing series of world premiere recordings of Ross Harris’s symphonies and other orchestral works on Naxos, presented by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Of the Symphonies nos. 2 and 3 disc (8572574), American Record Guide wrote: ‘The writing is fairly tonally based, expressive, and mature… The orchestra is very good, and all the soloists are strong.’

The Fourth Symphony is available on 8573044, coupled by the Cello Concerto. Gramophone commented: ‘performances are admirable. An enterprising pairing that can be welcomed with open arms.’ The Symphony no.5 and Violin Concerto release (8573532) also received an enthusiastic review from Percorsi Musicali: ‘Harris’ symphony seeks to relocate the absurdities of life in a texture that sails in a sort of memory of pain: beautiful adagios, well-built scherzos and the innocent song of Sally-Anne Russell are the elements that provoke a turbid vision of reality’.

Giordano Bellincampi is music director of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He is particularly celebrated for his prowess in the Central European, Italian and Scandinavian symphonic traditions, recording four volumes of orchestral work by Hans Christian Lumbye (855485154).