Vaughan Williams, Delius: Orchestral Works

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here's a fantastically played album of quiet, largely relaxing music by two of this century's greatest English composers. Delius, despite the popularity of his little tone poem about the cuckoo, remains something of an acquired taste; but Eugene Ormandy has selected some of the composer's best pieces, performing them all with uncommon character and no sense of dullness. And as for the great "Tallis Fantasion" of Vaughan Williams--possibly the finest work ever written for string orchestra--suffice to say that the Philadelphia Orchestra at the time of this recording had the world's best string section. This is a marriage made in heaven. A marvelous disc. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Fantasia on Greensleeves from Sir John in Love
The Lark Ascending: Romance for Violin and Orchestra Andante sostenuto
Brigg Fair: An English Rhapsody
A Dance Rhapsody No. 2: Mazurka tempo
On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
In A Summer Garden: Rhapsody

Amazon.com

Here's a fantastically played album of quiet, largely relaxing music by two of this century's greatest English composers. Delius, despite the popularity of his little tone poem about the cuckoo, remains something of an acquired taste; but Eugene Ormandy has selected some of the composer's best pieces, performing them all with uncommon character and no sense of dullness. And as for the great "Tallis Fantasion" of Vaughan Williams--possibly the finest work ever written for string orchestra--suffice to say that the Philadelphia Orchestra at the time of this recording had the world's best string section. This is a marriage made in heaven. A marvelous disc. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Williams & Delius.......2004-12-05

This is a superb recording of Vaughan Williams'Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Greensleeves, and The Lark Ascending
PLUS
Delius Brigg Fair and others. Brigg Fair should be a ballet. It's dramatic and touching.

An absolute delight - One of Ormandy's crowning achivement.......2004-10-25

This album contains two not-so-high-profile (try comparing their reputation to those of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky or even Stravinsky) composers' best known works, and certainly one of the loveliest.

Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, long considered as one of the greatest conductor-orchestra collaboration in history, prove the listeners that the performances of Vaughn-Williams and Delius enclosed in this disk are top-notch.

In the lush Thomas Tallis Fantasy, no string orchestra could match such musical and technical depth and expression. Bernstin's almost equally beautiful but much slower performance is great, but Ormandy's above all a classic. Same goes for the famous Greensleeves.

As for all the Delius' pieces, Ormandy does it again giving a definitive performances as is giving off the full color. It's a real pity, however, that "A Walk Through Paradise Garden" (from A Village Romeo and Juliet) isn't in this precious album.

Although not done by Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, my favorite piece in the disk is The Lark Ascending. A nostalgic, beautiful romance for violin and orchestra, this piece really captivates my musical sense. The violin solo really caresses you like a cool breeze, and the orchestra can take you to some Shakesperean love affair. Every time I listen, I visualize myself having a casual date, most likely a violinist, in a beautiful pastoral land far from the thoughts of modern urban stress, later falling into a passionate (but somewhat innocently mild, and never "dirty") Shakesperean affair. This performance, done by violinist Rafael Druian, and the Cleveland Sinfonietta, under Louis Lane gives a grade A romantic touch. Even though I heard other performances, this one is a classic. Druian gives an immensely rich sound on the violin.

This disk is a treasure for all classical music lovers.

String Fest!.......2004-05-07

I really enjoyed the low powerful lush sounding cellos and double basses with the violins and violas providing the high soaring end of these works.I agree with the other reviewers that the Philadelphia Orchestra had one of the best ever string sections during Ormandy's time. The production is excellent featuring mostly crisp detailed string music. However, the second part of the CD has some nice woodwind work including the mostly egnored crontra bassoon. Ormandy is certainly one of my favorite conductors and these English composers use the string section most effectively. If you love strings and woodwinds you will enjoy these works.

More about Vaughan Williams than Delius.......2000-06-01

As other reviewers have said about high-quality, low-priced CDs, I affirm that "this disc is a steal." The strings in the first track are especially lush. "Tallis" is brilliantly composed. "Greensleeves" is also superbly well done. "Lark Ascending" is nicely done too, although done not by Ormandy's Philadelphia Orchestra. Check out the Delius compositions, they're light and almost impressionistic.

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