In reviewing the Downes recording (Lyrita—LP only) of this symphony I declared my belief that it was of great and permanent value, not at all to be judged from the circumstances of its composition (during a period of recovery from lingering shell-shock occasioned by wartime service at sea). In particular the quality of serenity was, and is movingly conveyed, perhaps even the more so as on this occasion Lloyd is himself conducting his own work, and in the process he not only puts its qualities of serenity beyond doubt, but must surely disarm any listener who might otherwise feel the quality was over-stretched. It is indeed true that the conductor on the earlier record, Edward Downes, does bring to the music an extra touch of brilliance here and there with the help of the Philharmonia: a touch which some will undoubtedly welcome. But brilliance was not, I am sure, in Lloyd's mind, either at the time of writing the splendid symphony or of conducting it; and only the rash (or the foolish) will tell a composer he does not know how his own work should go.
Apart from matters of style the Albany orchestra turn out to rival, in their own way, the Philharmonia: their reputations may differ, but their skill differs like six from half a dozen. The different formats of the records, perhaps conveniently, will make choice of version easy for many listeners. Both offer very good sound; with, however, the new CD having more difficulty in getting its relative volume levels right than its LP predecessor. Both records have excellent documentation, the earlier one in the quality of its independent commentary on the music, the present one in authenticity of its reproduction of Lloyd's own account of the circumstances of the composition of the work. Either way you will get a marvellous symphony.'