Vaughan Williams: The symphonies

[Pulcinella]

Yes. I just found mine. What I also find strange is the the new box asserts that the recordings are a mix of ADD and DDD. Which of them is DDD? I thought they were all recorded between 1967 and 1972. I will hod back from ordering the new set until I can find more information about it, I think.

The single issue of number 3 and number 4 (RD89827) gives P 1972 for number 3 and P 1969 for number 4, with an overall P 1985 for the compilation. This at least chimes with the recording dates you mention.

[AmpH]

I bought the LSO / Previn cycle some years ago by means of the individual Japanese remastered issues. Clean and clear recordings and interesting covers too.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Wasn't the Previn Sinfonia Antartica the one that RCA boldly emblazoned "SINFONIA ANTARCTICA" on the LP cover?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Wasn't the Previn Sinfonia Antartica the one that RCA boldly emblazoned "SINFONIA ANTARCTICA" on the LP cover?

Yup:

https://www.discogs.com/Ralph-Vaughan-Williams-Andr%C3%A9-Previn-London-Symphony-Orchestra-Sinfonia-Antarctica/release/3567708

[visualnickmos]

I bought the LSO / Previn cycle some years ago by means of the individual Japanese remastered issues. Clean and clear recordings and interesting covers too.

Fabulous covers, as you say. The 'Pastoral' is of particular interest, as it totally mis-fires!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The 'Pastoral' is of particular interest, as it totally mis-fires!

My thought exactly - for both the Pastoral AND the Fourth!

[Bryn]

My thought exactly - for both the Pastoral AND the Fourth!

It's so wrong I want to use it as an avatar.

[Nick Armstrong]

First instalment,2 & 8,due out in April http://www.onyxclassics.com/comingsoon.php

Did anyone hear the extract from 2 on Record Review yesterday? I thought it sounded wonderful, I can feel an investment coming on (having been lucky enough to be at the wonderful 'three symphony' Manze Prom which was unforgettable)

It's so wrong I want to use it as an avatar.

That record cover is unbelievable! Go for it Bryn - I'd love to see it regularly!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Did anyone hear the extract from 2 on Record Review yesterday? I thought it sounded wonderful, I can feel an investment coming on (having been lucky enough to be at the wonderful 'three symphony' Manze Prom which was unforgettable)

I agree - and I wasn't so lucky! - my attention was instantly grabbed by the playing of the extract. Might have to go on the "For Later" list, though.

[BBMmk2]

Another catch-up session required!!!

[AmpH]

Fabulous covers, as you say. The 'Pastoral' is of particular interest, as it totally mis-fires!

Yes, I thought ' The Teapot ' might cause some amusement, as it did me when I first acquired it. Fortunately there is nothing inappropriate about the performances and whilst Previn's RVW 4 perhaps doesn't quite catch fire like some other performances ( especially the composers' own recording ) , his ' Pastoral ' is quite simply the finest on record ..... imvho of course.

[EdgeleyRob]

Yes, I thought ' The Teapot ' might cause some amusement, as it did me when I first acquired it. Fortunately there is nothing inappropriate about the performances and whilst Previn's RVW 4 perhaps doesn't quite catch fire like some other performances ( especially the composers' own recording ) , his ' Pastoral ' is quite simply the finest on record ..... imvho of course.

IMVHO too AmpH.

Is that a cow looking over a gate on the right of the teapot ?

[visualnickmos]

It's so wrong I want to use it as an avatar.

I think you should - it's even madder on a second look! It couldn't be more of an antithesis of the music it packages, if it tried!

[Beef Oven!]

Yes, I thought ' The Teapot ' might cause some amusement, as it did me when I first acquired it. Fortunately there is nothing inappropriate about the performances and whilst Previn's RVW 4 perhaps doesn't quite catch fire like some other performances ( especially the composers' own recording ) , his ' Pastoral ' is quite simply the finest on record ..... imvho of course.

I wouldn't want to come across as a contrarian, ahem, but I can't see a problem with that cover. It's very English/British with that Union Jack-like flag on the lid, the pastoral country scene on the pot is as per the symphony's subtitle, and the pot of course signifies our love and copious consumption of tea. I'm more worried about the cover of number five.

[Pabmusic]

Wasn't the Previn Sinfonia Antartica the one that RCA boldly emblazoned "SINFONIA ANTARCTICA" on the LP cover?

RVW might well have approved. He was insistent about "Antarctica", only agreeing to change it at the very last minute (letter to Roy Douglas, January 5th, 1953 - the first performance was January 14th).

Here's correspondence between RVW and Alan Frank of OUP. Note where Frank's criticisms originated - a sort of 1952 equivalent of the Radio 3 Forum (Pedants' Paradise) perhaps:

Frank (December 23rd 1952):

... the pundits at the Radio Times say, and I feel they are probably right, that Sinfonia Antarctica is in no known language! 'Sinfonia' is Italian and 'Antarctica' is Latin, the Italian being 'Antartica' without the 'c': while the Latin for Symphony is 'Symphonia'. I said I thought you would probably stick to the present title, but promised to put it to you. It doesn't worry me either way.

RVW (December 31st):

I think we will stick to 'Antarctica', even if it is bad Italian. It ought to be good and it is their fault if it is not. I named it 'Sinfonia' on the lines of the 'Sinfonia Domestica', though I hope the work has no other likeness to that!