Vaughan Williams: The symphonies

[Beef Oven!]

See PS added: link to a 70-min edition on Turangalîla.

Thanks #2

[Beef Oven!]

Thanks #2

Looks good. May take it in tonight

[Suffolkcoastal]

For me, collecting avidly over the years, it seems important to have different versions of many works. In fact, I'm not really sure that the BAL approach is very helpful. There is always the risk that certain recorded versions of familiar works become frozen in the mind and become a yardstick against which all other performances are judged, including live ones in the concert hall. Having alternative versions is necessary in my view, but of course cost and shelf space do come into the argument!

Cost is an important factor for me, I just don't have that much money, so have to be selective. Plus these days I spend more money on scores and books and exploring new works or ones I don't know well enough. I certainly listen though to alternative performances using spotify/youtube etc in case there is something that 'really hits the mark'.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

We really are spoilt nowadays, wish so many great cycles. When I first became interested in VW, there was just one recorded symphony cycle Boult's first, with the first 7 in mono only, and the 9th on a different label. The first VW symphony I owned was Barbirolli's Antartica - still one of the best. Reviewers who didn't like the spoken superscriptions on the early Boult and the LSO/Previn recordings praised the EMI Boult for being the first not to have the intrusive spoken bits. Were they not aware of the Barbirolli one?

[EdgeleyRob]

Hi Rob,

I've been ripping all my RVW CDs to my hard-drive this weekend and been dipping in and out (#3 Previn as I type). I'm hearing your Rozhdestvensky steer, loud and clear!

I subscribe to the Apple Music streaming service and it's available on there, so I can listen to them all over the coming weeks.

It's an interesting set BeefO.
A super 5 & 9,a disappointing 4 and the singing in 1 is very hit and miss.
We had a thread about the set a while back with some great reviews from Jayne.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?11704-Rozhdestvensky-s-live-Vaughan-Williams-Cycle&highlight=Gennady+Rozhdestvensky

[Beef Oven!]

It's an interesting set BeefO.
A super 5 & 9,a disappointing 4 and the singing in 1 is very hit and miss.
We had a thread about the set a while back with some great reviews from Jayne.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...Rozhdestvensky

Thanks Rob - I seem to have completely missed that thread!

[rauschwerk]

Perhaps my history of recording collection will ring a few bells and explain why one can end up with so many recordings on the shelves. It happens because no cycle of nine symphonies by anybody is likely to have nine top notch performances and recordings.

Teenage years, getting to know these pieces: 2,4,8 off-air from Proms (Sargent): 4 & 8 workmanlike, 2 special.
3,6 (Boult mono) and 5 (Barbirolli 1962) from record library. I fell in love with Barbirolli's 5 and it was the first one I bought.

In my twenties and thirties I collected Boult stereo versions: 2,3,4,6 and 8, along with 4 (RVW) and 3 (Previn)

Can't remember the history of my CD collection, but it probably began with Previn: 2,3,5,9. Later I bought his whole set as the only way of obtaining the bass tuba concerto in that version. I still find it an uneven set. I have to be in the right mood for Previn's expansive tempi in 2 and 5, though I can't deny they are played with love!
Handley 1,2,3,5,8 - inexpensive and really good, especially 5;
Hickox 2 (original) - another slow and loving version. I like the way Handley moves things on;
Norrington 2 - a bit quirky but I got this for the BAL-recommended Serenade to Music, which is absolutely exquisite;
Barbirolli 5 (1947), which came with RVW 4 (essential);
Barbirolli 5 (1963 - wonderful performance but not too well recorded);
Berglund 4 (BAL recommended and really good) - came with Berglund 6 (quirky) and Gibson 5 (not yet heard);
Andrew Davis 6 (excellent);
Hickox 6 & 8 (the former a BAL recommendation but not that well recorded, so I still prefer Davis)
Haitink cycle - contains BAL recommended Tallis Fantasia (whether that is better than Barbirolli 1962 is a moot point) and some other good fill-ups: it was ridiculously cheap and I was right in thinking it was too good to miss;
At some point I bought the first Boult cycle but later sold it.

I think that collection might last me the rest of my days!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Barbirolli 5 (1963 - wonderful performance but not too well recorded);

I'm surprised at your comment on the recording. I've never found it wanting. Maybe I've been too wrapped up in the performance to notice.

I think that collection might last me the rest of my days!

A very interesting list.

[rauschwerk]

I'm surprised at your comment on the recording. I've never found it wanting. Maybe I've been too wrapped up in the performance to notice.




A very interesting list.

I find the brass too backwardly balanced, though the Philharmonia string tone is gorgeous.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I find the brass too backwardly balanced, though the Philharmonia string tone is gorgeous.

Thanks. Next time I listen to this, I'll take note of it. Barbirolli liked to bring out the brass in live performances.

[rauschwerk]

Thanks. Next time I listen to this, I'll take note of it. Barbirolli liked to bring out the brass in live performances.

I've a vague recollection of a mention in one review of the original release, but I wasn't bothered (was it the first stereo RVW5?). For a long time that symphony was holy ground for me. It helped me at a really difficult time of my life.

[rauschwerk]

Forgot that I also have RVW's own 5 as a download. He liked to move things on, didn't he?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

For a long time that symphony was holy ground for me. It helped me at a really difficult time of my life.

The Romanza finds its way into A Pilgrim's Progress, and there it could claim to be even finer.

[rauschwerk]

The Romanza finds its way into A Pilgrim's Progress, and there it could claim to be even finer.

Yes, I keep meaning to get to know Pilgrim.

[johnb]

A relatively trivial point but one thing that always sticks in my mind about Barbirolli's EMI recording of the 5th is magical way in which he moulds the final bars of the Romanza.