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Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works

from: British Composers

September 09, 1991
I JUST WANT TO AGREE WITH EVERY WORD THAT MR JORDAN HAD SAID ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR RECORDING, NOT JUST OF 'THE LARK', BUT OF SERENADE TO MUSIC ALSO. IN FACT I JUST LOVE EVERYTHING ON THIS ALBUM! I BOUGHT MY VINYL COPY IN THE EARLY 70'S AND IT IS NOW SO WORN OUT THAT I DECIDED TO LOOK TO SEE IF A CD WAS AVAILABLE. WHAT JOY! NOT ONLY HAVE I BEEN ABLE TO FIND A CD OF MY TREASURED RECORDING, BUT WITH BONUS TRACKS, AND AT AN INCREDIBLY LOW PRICE. FOR ME THIS IS THE PURCHASE OF THE MONTH.

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Vaughan Williams - Complete Symphonies

by: London Philharmonic Orchestra

September 20, 2004
and I like the box too: I can always pick it out among the other VW sets ;-)
A wonderful evocative 3rd, a tense war study. Not very pastoral, nor bucolic or lyrical: I do not agree much with Vernon Handley's interpretation. Rather it is the past remembered, resigned melancholy that something is not quite right, yet with self-discovery and steely determination that is discussed and evolved by the soloists. Never forget that a war demands and makes a different mindset we do not understand. I find Rued Langgaard's deeply disturbing 4th Symphony, "Leaf Fall" 1916, to be in good company here.
Haitink's take on things generally differs just a bit from the English conductors, but I think "In the Fen Country" in particular justifies buying ... Read More:

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Holst: The Planets / Elgar: Enigma Variations

from: EMI Classics

March 11, 2002
This version of The Planets has replaced my recent LSO version.
Why? Well, the balance between the contributing elements is the best i've heard so far: The bass is thunderous analogue and the high woodwind/strings are like crystal in equal measure. This is a superb achievement and exceptionally important for, 'large orchestra' where Dynamics become a recording engineer's delight or problem depending on how good they are. And these people are the best: Abbey road have done a fantastic job on the remastering of a late 70's classic, although there is one thing they could never tackle: Is this as Holst intended?

Bolt was a friend of Holst and was given the opportunity to first conduct the piece; Bolt read and heard the original 'two piano' score and ... Read More:

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The Only Classical Album You'll Ever Need

from: Classics

November 03, 2003

The budget price doesn't reflect the quality of this 2 disc collection of classical music highlights, for the soloists, orchestras, conductors and the recordings themselves ensure it is a good quality selection of mostly familiar music from the classical music repertoire.

The choices lean heavily towards the opera style, so for that reason alone will not be the only album necessary to cover everyone's taste - even the complete classical beginner will find many of their familiar favourites are absent.

The tracks are mostly single movements from the whole score, which may not please the more enthusiastic classical fan, but it's unavoidable given the short time permitted by only 2 CDs. In any case, this album really is only aimed at those wanting ... Read More:

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The Only Choral Album You'll Ever Need

from: Victor

October 06, 2003
I've always enjoyed choral music but never really been sure what it was I was listening to, apart from the really well known tunes, some of which, shamefully, I recognised from adverts or films. Many well known ones are included here of course, such as "O Fortuna" from Carmina Burana, the "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves", the "March of the Toreadors" from Carmen; "Ode to Joy", "Zadok the Priest" and of course chunks of "The Messiah".

This double CD with well over 2 hours of music and 33 samples is the perfect way to discover (and put a name to!) other beautiful pieces of music. I was particularly pleased to hear Allegri's "Miserere" which has always sent goose bumps up and down my spine, and the "Humming Chorus" from Madame Butterfly.

I think its incredible ... Read More:

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Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary

from: Venture

May 15, 1995
Having your name extended through qualifications and growing a moustache Dali himself would be proud of does not grant you default access to the soul. High brow nothingness disguised as profound music easily sways sheep. Drop the education, open your heart, and wake up.

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The Only Opera Album You'll Ever Need

from: RCA Victor

March 31, 2001
The tracks on this cd are excellent and well worth the money. I get worried about the packaging of this sort of disc though because it reminds me of Tesco's attempt to sell wine to the masses by renaming a mediocre chablis as 'Good with meat' or whatever. If this was called 'Fine Opera' or 'An Opera Sampler' then I'd be a lot happier but the dumb approach of 'The Only Opera Album You'll Ever Need' makes me cringe. Once again though: the music is very good and the performances are excellent on the whole.

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On the Banks of Green Willow

from: Belart

May 19, 1997
I first heard 'The Banks of Green Willow' as incidental music to a BCC 'Lorna Doone' in the 1960s and wrote to the BBC to find out what this achingly beautiful piece was. 'A Shropshire Lad' is even better. The poignancy is intensified when you know that Butterworth (the dedicatee of Vaughan Williams' 'London' Symphony) died in the First World War. 'Tintagel' is grand and imposing, echoing Arthurian legend and the beat of waves round the ancient castle. This collection is absolutely authoritative, conducted by the best of all conductors of English music and wonderful value at its low price. No-one who is interested should hesitate.

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Film 100

by: London Philharmonic Orchestra

October 02, 2006
If you're looking for any CD's with movie music, this would be my first, and only, stop. There's something for everyone, and although stuff like the Indiana Jones theme is missing, and the opera CD (Disc 5) is a little week, the likes of "Ride of the Valkiryies" and "Ode to Joy" is just timeles, and best of all, immortalised by the films they're featured in, the compliment of all compliments to these films. It's very cheap to, I would highly recommend this.

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Vaughan Williams - Complete Symphonies etc

from: EMI Classics

October 09, 2000
The VW symphonies have done remarkably well on disc. Complete cycles by Previn, Haitink and Tod Handley all make substantial claims. Individual symphonies from Richard Hickox, Andrew Davis, Vaughan Williams himself and, of course, 'Glorious John' Barbirolli (as VW christened him) also demand attention. But, if you're looking for a complete overview of the Vaughan Williams symphonic canon (plus quite a lot of substantial extras) then this Boult set is probably still the best all-round recommendation.

Even he has a substantial rival in his earlier self on Decca, conducted under the gaze of the composer who delivers a touching speech of thanks to the players at the end of the pianissimo finale of the Sixth Symphony. This earlier Decca version probably has the edge for urgency and ... Read More: