Royal Ballet Sinfonia / Pete Harrison, Gavin Sutherland (The Magical Kingdom), Barry Wordsworth (Journey to Lapland)

Adam Saunders
The Magical Kingdom (2003)
Fairytale Sleighride (2008)
Journey to Lapland (2020)
Ballet for Strings (2025)
Capriccio (2025)
Parade of the Snowman (2025)
Sinfonietta (2025)
Sketches of New York (2025)
Three Pieces (2025)

Heritage Records HTGCD117 [68’12”]
Producer Philip Lane Engineers Tony Faulkner, Mike Ross-Trevor (The Magical Kingdom)

Recorded 4 February 2023 at CTS, Wembley (The Magical Kingdom), 12 September 2023 (Journey to Lapland) and 2, 3 January 2026 (all other works) at Henry Wood Hall, London

Reviewed by Richard Whitehouse

What’s the story?

His work having featured on several of its miscellanies, Heritage now issues an album devoted to the music of Adam Sanders (b.1968); his skill when navigating various genres and blurring of easy distinctions between ‘light’ or ‘serious’ music made evident throughout this collection.

What’s the music like?

His music often having an illustrative or pictorial aspect does not lessen Saunders’ technical command in a medium for which he has keen affinity. This is as evident in the earlier pieces here as in those more recent works that, between them, make up the larger part of this album.

The curtain-raiser that is Capriccio having launched proceedings with wit and insouciance, Three Pictures demonstrates Saunders’ all-round versatility across three movements which take in the animated Fanfare and Celebrations, the raptly evocative landscape conjured by Rivers of Calm, Peaks of Magnificence, then the final burst of activity conveyed through Dances of Exuberance. With its often resourceful scoring for strings and harp, Sketches of New York is the highlight of this collection – whether in the pulsating while never mindless activity which characterizes Bustling Metropolis, the elegiac expression of Lonely Souls, the lilting elegance of Green Dances, or the lively and joyful abandon of A City at Play.

If the sprightly and entertaining march-past that is Parade of the Snowman has not become a regular seasonal fixture on Classic FM, it certainly ought to be. As, for that matter, should The Magical Kingdom which subtly refits the British light music from an earlier era for the present day. It lasts barely 10 minutes overall, but Sinfonietta cannily outlines a symphony   in miniature as it moves from the spirited incisiveness of its initial Allegro, via the tranquil eloquence of its Adagio then the humorous resolve of its Scherzo, to the brilliant display of its final Allegro. One of the relatively few abstract compositions in Saunders’ output, this is also one of the most appealing and it would be worth the composer building on its promise.

Fairytale Sleighride finds Saunders back on familiar ground and what is another miniature made for Christmas with tuned percussion to the fore. More substantial (indeed the longest overall work on this collection) is Ballet for Strings – its five movements at once dance-like though self-sufficient in content as they take in expressive characters which are respectively humorous in intent; gracious while not a little nostalgic; animated but with searching asides; delicate in scoring if robust in spirit; then energetic to a degree that sees the overall sequence through to a decisive close. It only remains for Journey to Lapland to round off proceedings with its ‘adventure’ being played out for the pleasure and enjoyment of listeners everywhere.

Does it all work?

It does. Those having heard Saunders’ overture Pirates Ahoy! (Dutton CDLX7190) or one of the seasonal pieces on Heritage’s Christmas anthologies (HTGCD139 and HTGCD299) will find much to enjoy, not least with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia so attuned to his attractive idiom.

Is it recommended?

It is, not least as enhanced with excellent sound produced by and informative booklet notes written by Philip Lane, among the leading British light-music composers of his generation. Hopefully there will be further opportunities to hear Saunders’ orchestral work before long.

Listen / Buy

You can explore purchase options at the Heritage Records website. Click on the names for more information on composer Adam Saunders, the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and conductors Pete Harrison, Gavin Sutherland and Barry Wordsworth

Published post no.3,003 – Tuesday 1 September 2026