Vaughan Williams conducts Vaughan Williams

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Vaughan Williams's 1937 recording of his Fourth Symphony is more than a document of a great composer conducting his own music. It's a terrific performance, bristling with fiery tension like no other in the catalogue. He sets a torrid pace for a work often thought of as encompassing feelings of dread in a Europe barreling toward another World War. It's a tough, uncompromising work, of which the composer himself said: "I don't know if I like it, but it's what I meant." The BBC Symphony plays its collective heart out for him; an air of special occasion suffuses the disc. The composer-conductor leads a slow movement notable for the way he achieves note-to-note tension, and its enigmatic closing flute solo is movingly done. The Fifth Symphony, completed in 1943, is a quite different work, gentler and more lyrical. Barbirolli, leading his newly reconstituted Halle band the year after the work's premiere, conducts an ardent performance, more passionate than his stereo remake for EMI. Dutton's transfers of these "historical recordings" are eminently listenable. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

The Merrymakers Overture
1. In A Country Lane
2. On The Edge Of The Lake
3. At The Dance
1. In The Country
3. Evening In Town
3. March 'Queen Elizabeth'
The Three Bears Phantasy
March 'The Dam Busters'
Children's March 'Over The Hills And Far Away'
Marche Caprice
Hamlet: Funeral March
The Wasps: March Past Of The Kitchen Utensils'
Soirees Musicales: March
Suite In E Flat Op.28 No.1: March

Album Description

A splendid program of Eric Coates favorites, filled out with a stirring parade of marches by all the great British composers! Sir Adrian Boult (1889-1983) was one of the greatest, most beloved, and longest-lived of all British conductors. He made countless acclaimed recordings, not only of British music but certainly specializing in it. He was personally acquainted with many of the composers whose music he led.

Average customer rating:

Vaughan Williams --- off the beaten path
Hickox Conducts Vaughan Williams

Hickox Conducts Vaughan Williams

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Ralph Vaughan Williams: A Cotswold Romance / Death of Tintagiles - London Philharmonic Choir / London Symphony Orchestra / Richard Hickox
Vaughan Williams: Complete Concertos
Vaughan Williams: Over hill, over dale
Vaughan Williams - Along the Field on Wenlock Edge · Merciless Beauty · Ten Blake Songs, and others / Ainsley · The Nash Ensemble
Hodie / Fantasia on Christmas Carols

ASIN: B00004TQQ6
Release Date: 2000-08-01

Tracks:

Ser To Music (Orch Version) - Bradley Creswick
The Poisoned Kiss - Ov - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Old King Cole - A Ballet For Orch: (Allegro Moderato) - Bradley Creswick/Stephen Roberts
Old King Cole - A Ballet For Orch: Pipe Dance - Bradley Creswick/Stephen Roberts
Old King Cole - A Ballet For Orch: Bowl Dance - Bradley Creswick/Stephen Roberts
Old King Cole - A Ballet For Orch: Morris Jig: ' Go And List For A Sailor' - Bradley Creswick/Stephen Roberts
Old King Cole - A Ballet For Orch: Folk Sing: 'A Bold Young Farmer' - Bradley Creswick/Stephen Roberts
Old King Cole - A Ballet For Orch: The Jolly Thresherman - Bradley Creswick/Stephen Roberts
Old King Cole - A Ballet For Orch: Solo Jig - Bradley Creswick/Stephen Roberts
Five Mystical Songs: Easter - Sinf Chor/Alan Fearon/Stephen Roberts
Five Mystical Songs: I Got Me Flowers - Sinf Chor/Alan Fearon/Stephen Roberts
Five Mystical Songs: Love Bade Me Welcome - Sinf Chor/Alan Fearon/Stephen Roberts
Five Mystical Songs: The Call - Sinf Chor/Alan Fearon/Stephen Roberts
Five Mystical Songs: Antiphon - Sinf Chor/Alan Fearon/Stephen Roberts
Prld On An Old Carol Tune - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
The Running Set - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Prld: 49th Parallel - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Sea Songs - March - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox

Tracks:

The Lark Ascending - Bradley Creswick
Two Hymn - Tune Prlds: 1. Eventide - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Two Hymn - Tune Prlds: 2. Dominus Regit Me - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Ob Con in a: I. Rondo Pastorale (Allegro Moderato) - Roger Winfield
Ob Con in a: II. Minuet And Musette (Allegro Moderato) - Roger Winfield
Ob Con in a: III. Finale: Scherzo (Presto - Lento - Presto) - Roger Winfield
Fant on 'Greensleeves' - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Three Prlds Founded On Welsh Hymn Tunes: 2. Rhosymedre - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Three Prlds Founded On Welsh Hymn Tunes: 3. Hyfrydal - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Con Accademico (Con For Vn And Strs in d): I. Allegro Pesante - Bradley Creswick
Con Accademico (Con For Vn And Strs in d): II. Adagio - Bradley Creswick
Con Accademico (Con For Vn And Strs in d): III. Presto - Bradley Creswick
Five Variants Of 'Dives And Lazarus': Adagio - Bradley Creswick
Five Variants Of 'Dives And Lazarus': I. 1/4nt = 1/4nt - - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Five Variants Of 'Dives And Lazarus': II. Allegro Moderato - - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Five Variants Of 'Dives And Lazarus': III. 1/4nt = 150 - - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Five Variants Of 'Dives And Lazarus': IV. L'Istesso Tempo - - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox
Five Variants Of 'Dives And Lazarus': V. Adagio - Northern Sinf Of England/Richard Hickox

Customer Reviews:

Vaughan Williams --- off the beaten path.......2006-05-16

This ample collection demonstrates that Richard Hickox has to be considered one the leading Vaughan Williams interpreters in the post-Boult world, as he puts forth sparkling performances of many little-known works, including the Concerto accademico and the film music "49th Parallel," among others. Quite a number of these compositions are rarely recorded, if ever; it is quite nice to see them in a very affordable collection such as this.

Like another reviewer, I find the affected style of Stephen Roberts to be distracting & annoying. Also, the orchestral version of the Serenade to Music is a pale imitation of the original version...if you have heard Boult's recording, you will understand that the original version is far superior. It is a shame that it wasn't included here.

These are mere quibbles, however. For a dirt-cheap price, you have the opportunity to fill in the gaps of your Vaughan Williams collection. There is no good reason to pass on this. If you stumble across these CDs (I found mine at BestBuy of all places), grab it.

Hickox Conducts Vaughan Williams.......2000-09-05

This is a most-welcome CD release, especially since it contains a number of pieces not available on CD until now. It's also excellent value--two discs for the price of one.

Of particular interest is the curious ballet Old King Cole, written for an outdoor performance at Trinity College, Cambridge. Essentially a light-hearted piece, the music is not of the highest level of inspiration overall, but there are moments of real beauty that make up for any shortcomings in the score. For the convinced Vaughan Williams admirer, this is a must-have (RVW himself recorded some of this music; this early mono recording has been released on CD by Pearl records.)

Other items of similar interest include the Prelude On An Old Carol Tune, written for a BBC radio play, and a pair of hard-to-find marches. The instrumental version of the Serenade to Music is a gorgeous novelty, but no substitute for the original version for 16 vocalists and orchestra.

Also included are two important concertos; one for oboe and one for violin, both with string accompaniment. The violin concerto receives the better performance. The rendering of the oboe concerto suffers from too-slow tempi, particularly in the final movement. Neither are major works, but are nonetheless full of interest and deserve to be better known.

Some well-known RVW works are included, among them The Lark Ascending and Five Mystical Songs. The latter is marred by the soloist's excessive tendency to roll his r's--an almost comical sound sometimes. RVW was known to have disliked this sort of affectation.

Customer Reviews:

highly individual and effective performances.......2002-08-05

This recording is taken from a BBC stereo broadcast of Stokowski's last British public concert, given, according to the notes just after his 92nd birthday. In it, you will hear music making that is both highly individual and compelling. The Brahms 4th is very passionate sounding because Stoki both obtains very intensely surging, full bodied sound from the New Philharmonia Orchestra and really shapes the flow of the music. In particular, he notches up the tempo for the climaxes of both the first and fourth movements, which gives them a rhythmic drive that is genuinely exciting. In the Vaughan Williams Fantasia, he employs a subtle rubato that effectively imparts a sensual quality to the music, a characteristic attribute of Stokowski in much of the romantic repertoire. The only drawback, I feel, is his performance of the Ravel Rhapsodie, for the reason that there are coordination problems in the orchestral playing in the Habanera and Feria sections.
The sound quality is both clear and full. A definite recommendation for fans of the music and/or Stokowski.

Stokowski Conducts Klemperer, Vaughan Williams, Ravel, Brahms, Novácek

Average customer rating:

The most exciting live Brahms 4 EVER!!

Stokowski Conducts Klemperer, Vaughan Williams, Ravel, Brahms, Novácek

Manufacturer: BBC Legends
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Brahms: Serenade No. 1; Dawson; Negro Folk Symphony
Walton: Partita for Orchestra; Debussy: La Mer; Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3; Etc.
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22; Piano Concerto No. 27; Adagio & Fugue for String Orchestra, K 546
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (Hybr)
Brahms: Violin Concerto and Double Concerto [SA-CD - CD compatible]

ASIN: B000MQCA1E
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

Merry Waltz
Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis
I Prelude A La Nuit
II Malaguena
III Habanera
IV Feria
I Allegro Non Troppo
II Andante Moderato
III Allegro Giocoso-Poco Meno Presto-Tempo I
IV Allegro Energico E Passionato-Piu Allegro
Perpetuum Mobile, Op.5 No.4

Customer Reviews:

The most exciting live Brahms 4 EVER!! .......2007-06-30

Let's face it, the main reason for buying this newly remastered of a previously released Stoky concert is the Brahms 4. If you own the old one, get rid of it, because the remastering on this one is far superior. I'll skip commenting on the other selections and go straight to the Brahms 4. Stoky, being a Brahms lover has many surviving recordings of the 4th Symphony. I am a frim believer that his studio recording of this same work is the GREATEST recording EVER of this symphony. That was recorded a few weeks after this concert. Having said that, there is a level of excitement here in the live performance that make it worth acquiring. The French Horns have a full forward sound through out that make the supporting melody and counter melodies exciting. There is a level of excitement that one rarely hears. Given this, there is really not that much difference between the studio recording and the live performance. Obviously the studio recording has better sound, but this one sounds pretty good. I wish the the opening of the 4th movement has the nice full bodied string sound that was captured in the studio though, but that's a tiny gripe. It's staggering to think that Stoky was 92 when he gave this, his last concert in Britain. It's worth acquiring just to hear the master conduct this exciting performance. Sure the live performance has a few slight passages, but no matter, the excitement of this performance is over whelmning. The speed of the coda in the first movement is taken at an incredibly quick pace and Stoky ignores the light breath pauses at the end to make it thrilling. I dare ANY condctor to match the intensity, brilliance and excitement of this incredible performance. If you love Stoky and Brahms this is the one to own! Rush out and order it now!

Abravanel Conducts Vaughan Williams [DualDisc]

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Abravanel Conducts Vaughan Williams [DualDisc]

Manufacturer: Silverline
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0009KIY4A
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Average customer rating:

A Spirited Performance
historic and contemporary - simply the best

Boult Conducts Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams , London Philharmonic Orchestra , Sir Adrian Boult , and London Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Dutton Laboratories
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004YU92
Release Date: 2000-11-14

Tracks:

Sym No.6 in e: I. Allegro
Sym No.6 in e: II. Moderato
Sym No.6 in e: III. Scherzo: Allegro Vivace (Revised Version)
Sym No.6 in e: IV. Epilogue: Moderato
Sym No.6 in e: III. Scherzo: Allegro Vivace (Original Version)
A Song Of Thanksgiving - Betty Dolemore/Robert Speaight/Harry Gabb/Luton Chor Society/Luton Girls' Chor/Arthur E Davies
The Lark Ascending - Jean Pougnet

Amazon.com

No conductor is more closely identified with the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams than Sir Adrian Boult, who twice recorded all the symphonies as well as other major works. His 1949 recording of the powerful Sixth Symphony captures the potent emotions of the work to a far greater degree than did his later EMI stereo recording. A welcome bonus is Boult's 1950 remake of the driving Scherzo, incorporating the composer's revisions. A Song of Thanksgiving is an incidental work commissioned by the BBC to celebrate the end of World War II. Despite moments of interest, it is not representative of VW at his best. The Lark Ascending, however, is one of the composer's most beautiful works, and it's given a performance of rapt intensity by Boult and violin soloist Jean Pougnet. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

A Spirited Performance.......2006-08-29

This is a white-hot reading of Ralph Vaughn Williams Sixth Symphony. Written during 1944 through 1947, and was first performed in 1948 with Sir Adrian Boult conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The symphony was recorded in February 1949 with Sir Adrian conducting the London Philharmonic which is presented on this CD. However, in early 1950 Vaughan Williams altered the Scherzo inserting a new theme for the brass, so the same forces returned to the Abbey Road studios to record the new Scherzo. The CD gives both the original and revised movement.

The Sixth Symphony has provoked a lot of discussion as to its meaning, particularly since Vaughn Williams had been written off as a composer of pastoral music like the Fifth Symphony; here was something with a lot of fire and energy that caught people by surprise. Many, including Sir Malcolm Sargant, believed that the symphony was about the Second World War with the final Epilogue movement as a vision of the world following a nuclear war. The composer denied all of this and referred to the last movement as "an agnostic's Paradiso." The symphony is noteworthy in that it uses a saxophone to impart a jazz flavor to sections of the music.

The CD also includes "A Song of Thanksgiving" originally titled "Thanksgiving for Victory" that was written for the defeat of Nazi Germany and was broadcast on the morning of May 13, 1945. The recording on this disc dates from 1951 and is scored for orchestra, chorus, soprano soloist and speaker. The recording of A Lark Ascending is from 1952 with Jean Pougnet as soloist. This is a beautiful recording of this important work, based on a poem of the same name by George Meredith. The re-mastering of the music is excellent although not up to digital standards, but this is a recording of the Sixth that one should not be without and is a real bargain.

historic and contemporary - simply the best.......2001-01-10

They don't come better than this. This version of the VW 6th., conceived when the music was still almost white-hot (the symphony received over 100 perormance in its first two years) beats all rivals on interpretation and is remarkably good sonically too. VW paid particular tribute to Boult's skill in moulding the desolate (and difficult) final movement, but every moment of this performance breathes commitment. 'The Lark Ascending' is as fine here as on any other CD (Jean Pougnet is the soloist) and again the sound is very faithful and beautiful. Having the revised version of the symphony's scherzo is indeed a bonus, and a very interesting one, and of course you can programme the CD to play either in the contxt of the symphony as a whole. In addition to all of that the disc is absurdly cheap. You really can't go wrong with this.

Sir Malcolm Sargent Conducts British Music

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Sir Malcolm Sargent Conducts British Music

Manufacturer: Beulah
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00008ERVH
Release Date: 1995-05-23

Stokowski conducts Vaughan Williams/Dvorak/Purcell

Average customer rating:

Truly essential listening at mid-price !
An essential listening experience at mid-price !

Stokowski conducts Vaughan Williams/Dvorak/Purcell

Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis - Erich Gruenberg & Jeremy Painter/Frederick Riddle/David Strange
Dido's Lament (From Dido And Aeneas)
Serenade in E, Op.22: I. Moderato
Serenade in E, Op.22: II. Tempo Di Valse
Serenade in E, Op.22: III. Scherzo (Vivace)
Serenade in E, Op.22: IV. Larghetto
Serenade in E, Op.22: V. Finale (Allegro Vivace)

Customer Reviews:

Truly essential listening at mid-price !.......2001-05-09

This is one of the two legendary recordings Stokowski made in1975 (aged 93!) with the obscure indie label Desmar. They've neverbeen available on cd, I guess for [certain] problems (Desmar folded shortly afterwards), and EMI has done a wonderful job in re-issueing them . Nowadays every performance from the past is billed as "legendary" , but this word can be properly used about these two releases. While the other disc is, in my opinion, the definitive recording of the Rachmaninov 3rd sym., from the conductor who premiered it and worked closer than any other with the composer, this one is, quite simply, the most amazing rendition of the RVW Fantasia I've ever encountered. Sometimes mistakenly intended as a "simple" string showpiece, the Fantasia is a most difficult piece, that requires a balance of totale dedication and unerring control, otherwise it can easily sound static, or too syrupy, or too mystic , which was not intended to be (not in the strictly religious sense, at least ). Thankfully there are some great performances around, like Previn's, Haitink's or Boult's, but I think no one like Stokowski strikes such a perfect blend of concentration, heartfelt dedication and forward momentum. Only Barbirolli matches him, but here the playing is even more refined, and the sound is altogether superior. Stokowski's performance is, at the same time, somber and poignantly passionate , majestic and most finely nuanced. The string "layers" are splendidly balanced, the antiphonal interaction between the two orchestras achieves an unprecedented clarity. No gloss at the expense of depth, though: the hushed beginning is ethereal, while the ecstatic climax is glorious. The Old Magician also extracts the most ravishing sounds from the RPO, that here truly boasts that blend of unity, precision and warmth normally associated with the Concertgebouw or the golden age Philadelphia. This alone is worth the price, but we also get a most charming, even though idiosyncratic in tempi, performance of the Dvorak, and a real gem, the Stokowski "transfiguration" of the Purcell. I usually like my ancient music "authentic" but no one like Stokowski ( neither Schonberg nor Respighi or Elgar in their transcriptions) knew how to make the old masters shine like he did with Bach, and this Purcell transcription is absolutely marvelous. A guilty pleasure, maybe, but who cares, when the music making is so glorious? The Desmar releases were also famous for their sound, and deservedly so. The careful digital remastering has preserved the splendidly three-dimensional soundstage and, above all, the uncanny realism of the strings tone rendition. I'm not usually inclined to "analogue nostalgia", but this is really superior to many chilly DDD recordings. The presentation is overall first class: there's even a picture of the (splendid) original LP covers.

An essential listening experience at mid-price !.......2000-02-18

This is one of the two legendary recordings Stokowski made at 93 with the obscure independent label Desmar, available for the first time in cd. Nowadays every performance from the past seems to be "legendary" , but this word is not improperly used here. While the other disc is,in my opinion, the definitive recording of the Rachmaninov 3rd symphony, from the conductor who premiered it and worked closer than any other with the composer, this one is, very simply, the final account of the RVW fantasia. This is a most difficult piece, because it can sound too syrupy, or too austere, or too religious, which was not intended to be. There are notable achievements like Previn's, Haitink's or Barbirolli's, but I think no one like Stokowski strikes the perfect balance of concentration, heartfelt dedication and forward momentum, giving us a performance which is at the same time somber and poignant, majestic and most finely nuanced (never I heard in a so clearly the antiphonal action between the two orchestras !) He also coaxes the most ravishing sounds from the RPO strings, here displaying the blend of unity, precision and warmth normally associated with the Concertgebouw or the golden age Philadelphia. This alone is worth the price, but we also get a most charming, even though idiosyncratic, performance of the Dvorak, and a real gem, the Stokowski "transfiguration" of the Purcell. I usually like my ancient music "authentic" but no one like Stokowski ( neither Schonberg nor Respighi or Elgar in their transcriptions) knew how to make the old masters glow like he did with Bach, and the Purcell is also very beautiful. The engineering is absolutely stunning in its clarity and velvety tone, really the best of the analogue age near its end. I urge you to get this.

Average customer rating:

Very nice Barbirolli/Vaughan Williams
An essential VW recording
Glorious RVW from Glorious John

Barbirolli Conducts Vaughan Williams

Manufacturer: Dutton Laboratories
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Symphonies 4 & 5
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies 1-9 / Boult

ASIN: B00005JJ19
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Customer Reviews:

Very nice Barbirolli/Vaughan Williams.......2006-06-17

From the vicissitudes of the Thames and the impressions of other London locales to the noble tunes and motley reflections on the British empire, Sir John Barbirolli directs the Halle Orchestra in what is a moving musical portrait of Vaughan Williams' Second Symphony. He often bestows upon the music a marvelous resplendence, particularly in some of the composition's early passages but also during the march-like scherzo, where there is just the right amount of colorful brio. The same treatment is given to the exalted portions of the closing movement. There are some other fine Vaughan Williams Seconds out there, Handley's being among the most notable. Boult has his moments too, though I'm not especially enamoured with his intermittent tendency to push things a little too hard. Albeit, this earlier of Barbirolli's two Halle accounts from 1957, which, by the way, surpasses his later one ( 1967 ) is rich and colorful, and it possesses a grandness of spirit that is difficult to beat.

The somewhat unconventional but alluring Eighth Symphony presents what I feel is an even more fascinating sound portrait. Some have characterized it as an instrumental experimentation by the composer, but who cares when such a delicious musical treat as this is served up ? In this work dedicated to him by the composer, Barbirolli again demonstrates his ability to infuse the music with a rich, warm glow, particularly in the third movement, ( somewhat reminiscent of the composer's Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis ) where he sustains a rapt spiritual presence. However, I find him just a bit less satisfying in conveying the drollness of the second movement and the exuberance of the fourth movement. Here Sir Adrian Boult's style seems closer to what is called for; namely, a little more of the light and lively quality. In any event, this finely engineered disc by Dutton is certainly a most welcome offering.

An essential VW recording.......2002-07-26

These performances of Barbirolli are justly acclaimed. No one else that I have heard conveys the diverse elements of A London Symphony, its dramatic vitality, humor, lyric beauty (no one equals him in the 2nd movement), mystery and tragic grandeur as effectively as he does. The 8th symphony, which he premiered, is still among the best performances available. Furthermore, the sound (which is in stereo) is quite good, so one need not make an allowance on that account.

Glorious RVW from Glorious John.......2001-11-26

Ralph Vaughan-Williams had two gifted mid-century interpreters -- Sir Adrian Boult and Sir John Barbirolli. EMI promoted Boult's Vaughan-Williams more aggressively than it promoted Barbirolli's; Boult's stereophonic cycle of the RVW symphonies appeared attractively on long-playing records issued in the United States by Angel, a consortium of EMI and Capitol Records. Of Barbirolli's Symphonic RVW, the catalogue held two Angel editions -- the Second or "London" Symphony and the Fifth. Nevertheless on a variety of labels (Pye, Decca, EMI), Barbirolli recorded a majority of the symphonies (2, 5, 6, 7, 8), including platter-premieres of the Seventh and the Eighth (which RVW dedicated to Sir John). Barbirolli's RVW differs from Boult's in its wonderful suppleness or plasticity of phrase; Boult seems always to drive the music, a gesture that works for the Fourth and Sixth Symphonies, with their "modern" effects, but seems less congenial in the Third, Fifth, or Eighth. The "London" Symphony offers a kaleidoscope of brash and gentle elements that play alternately to Boult"s and Barbirolli's respective strengths, so it is the best test-case for revealing what each brought to RVW. What Boult does wonderfully is manage the great eruptions of the First Movement, after the slow nocturnal introduction, and the chromatic variations of the tragic march in the Finale. For my money, however, Barbirolli scores more points overall than Boult. In the fine, 1957 stereo recording, with the Halle Orchestra, now re-released by Dutton, the warmth of the First Movement's introduction, leading to the raucous outburst, is more evident than in any other recorded performance, even the later one that Sir John did for EMI. Barbirolli makes the great swaying music-hall theme (I suppose it qualifies as the second subject) truly jolly -- by taking it out of the metrical straight-jacket and applying generous rubato to its phrases. The Second Movement glows with an inner-fire; the Halle strings are particularly ripe in their sound. The Third Movement (both a Scherzo and a Nocturne) is diaphanous and mercurial. The Finale is heartbreaking in the pathos of its march and then -- in the lengthy epilogue -- as transfigured and ethereal as could be. The Eighth, from 1956, was the first recording. Here, too, Barbirolli seems to me to excel Boult in the refinement and clarity of his interpretation. A word about the recorded sound: These are vacuum-tube stereo recordings made in the Manchester hall where the Halle gave its concerts. I am a fan of archival performances; in this case, I am a fan of the archival sound. The sections of the orchestra are perfectly balanced on the acoustic stage as are individual contributors in each section. The sound is warm and natural. I know of know modern digital recording that has such realistic ambiance. This disc is a must for any RVW fan and should be considered by anyone just now beginning to explore the RVW symphonies.

Average customer rating:

Historically Valuable Recording

Wood Conducts Vaughan Williams

Manufacturer: Dutton Labs UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005B0HQ
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Customer Reviews:

Historically Valuable Recording.......2004-02-11

Although this collection contains many historically important recordings of Vaughan Williams, I find the sound quality is not up to Dutton's usual audio magic. Much of it sounds distorted and does not contain many of the upper level frequencies Dutton usually pulls out of the grooves of these old 78 r.p.m. recordings. At the same time, the bass frequencies do resonate in abundance and their richness provides the redeeming virtue for this disc.

This collection is historically important because of the eminence of Sir Henry Wood as a musician of his day as well as his collaboration and relationship with the composer. Indeed, the 'Serenade to Music' is even dedicated to him on the occasion of his fifty years as a conductor. If you enjoy historical recordings, by all means, enjoy this one. At the time, do not expect the usual audio quality that one often hears from Dutton's historical releases.

Music Review:

Music Review

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