Vaughan Williams: The symphonies

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I purchased the Haitink cycle in my local British Heart Foundation shop this afternoon for... £1.99!

Oh that is so lucky, pastie: I paid just under £20 for my set, which is still a bargain for these performances.


It's Oxfam that has the highest prices round here.

[visualnickmos]

As a pure aside, regarding the seemingly adverse (unfair?) reactions to Andrew Davis's RVW on here (I've yet to hear any of his RVW, so I can't have an opinion) led me to speculate what the other Davis (Sir C) would make of a complete RVW symphny cycle? Hypothesising, I think it would be marvellous; will we ever know? I certainly hope so...

(Please don't some smart Alec come back and say that he's already done it!) I'll never be able to post again!

[antongould]

Happy Days , AG !! what a way to spend that time !
(got any good racing tips?..time spent pays off on that as well !)

No it's purely RVW and tending to Lady G's every need......why is Boult EMI London 6 minutes shorter than the Previn I have?

[richardfinegold]

Wonderful work. The passage which evokes the ascent of the Beardmore never ceases to chill the spine! Much of what some may hear as cliche is precisely due to the impact VW's visionary score had on a generation of film composers.

Agreed. I find that to be true of Russian Romantic composers such as Borodin and Rimsky (amongst others). Some of their music conjurs associations of bad film music, but one always has to remembers that it was the film composers who were inspired by (and frequently ripping off) these great composers.

[pastoralguy]

That's amazing. Round here the BHF shops have the most highly priced CDs of all the charity shops. Even BBCMM cover discs are £2.99 each.

I think a lot has to do with the knowlege (or lack of!) of staff doing the pricing. I suspect there is an attitude of 'this is classical so no-one will want it. we'll make it as cheap as possible to get rid of it'.

I also got 4 Handel operas (Renne Jacobs) and the complete Beethoven Quartets played by both the Vegh and Hungarion Quartets for £15 the lot! Just incredible.

[Pabmusic]

Agreed. I find that to be true of Russian Romantic composers such as Borodin and Rimsky (amongst others). Some of their music conjurs associations of bad film music, but one always has to remembers that it was the film composers who were inspired by (and frequently ripping off) these great composers.

I conducted Kalinnikov's lovely 1st Symphony once. At one of the last rehearsals, when we had all four horns there (well, five actually, because the 1st had a bumper) I stopped at the end of the first movement exposition, only to hear a rather superiorly dismissive comment from the horns that it was 'film music'. I was able to point out it was 'film music' from 1895 that Toscannini was one who programmed it, but what a lot Hollywood has to answer for!

[BBMmk2]

I conducted Kalinnikov's lovely 1st Symphony once. At one of the last rehearsals, when we had all four horns there (well, five actually, because the 1st had a bumper) I stopped at the end of the first movement exposition, only to hear a rather superiorly dismissive comment from the horns that it was 'film music'. I was able to point out it was 'film music' from 1895 that Toscannini was one who programmed it, but what a lot Hollywood has to answer for!

Why would top musicioans dismiss film music as a sub-culture toserious classical music? A different jettle of fish, i know, but there is a wealth of very worthwhile music to be heard there.

[LeMartinPecheur]

A very worthwhile day in Exeter Oxfam yesterday. Came away with 2 new Londons, those of N*rr*ngt*n and Barbirolli (the Nixa version c/w #8). Initial impression of the Sir Roger: very neat and tidy, and the right ideas, but too cool and cerebral. Must listen again more closely. Liked his Tallis Fantasia better - the lean string textures helped clarity without gutting the piece. Would still prefer richer performances like Barbirolli tho'. I've still to play the Barbirolli.

I blame this thread entirely for needless duplication of repertoire when I already have Londons by Boult(x2), Wood, Previn, Handley, Haitink and Hickox

[Barbirollians]

A very worthwhile day in Exeter Oxfam yesterday. Came away with 2 new Londons, those of N*rr*ngt*n and Barbirolli (the Nixa version c/w #8). Initial impression of the Sir Roger: very neat and tidy, and the right ideas, but too cool and cerebral. Must listen again more closely. Liked his Tallis Fantasia better - the lean string textures helped clarity without gutting the piece. Would still prefer richer performances like Barbirolli tho'. I've still to play the Barbirolli.

I blame this thread entirely for needless duplication of repertoire when I already have Londons by Boult(x2), Wood, Previn, Handley, Haitink and Hickox

The Barbirolli 2 and 8 is a classic of the gramophone !

[Bryn]

The Barbirolli 2 and 8 is a classic of the gramophone !

Indeed. I first encountered (bought) them as a Pye Golden Guinea 12" LP and a Nixa 10" LP respectively. I was very pleased when I found then coupled on a single CD.

[richardfinegold]

The Barbirolli 2 and 8 is a classic of the gramophone !

It's on my phone, and probably the most frequently played item there.

[richardfinegold]

I was in yet another second hand shop today, and found a sealed copy of Boult's last recording of the London Symphony. Doesn't displace Barbirolli, but nice to have.
I also pulled Haitink's Antartica off the shelves today, thanks to this thread. I have a new CD player, the Oppo BD-105, which has 32 bit Sabre DACs. My goodness, that recording sounds stunning on this player! And the power of the performance again overwhelms.

[Pabmusic]

It's on my phone, and probably the most frequently played item there.

Don't you find Barbirolli's early Pye account of the London so much more involving than his later HMV one? I certainly do - and, yes, I'd agree it's a classic.

[richardfinegold]

Don't you find Barbirolli's early Pye account of the London so much more involving than his later HMV one? I certainly do - and, yes, I'd agree it's a classic.

I only know the one that I have, which I purchased as a reissue on the Dutton label. It is in stereo. Are there more than 1 J.B. recording of the London?

[Pabmusic]

I only know the one that I have, which I purchased as a reissue on the Dutton label. It is in stereo. Are there more than 1 J.B. recording of the London?

Yes, there are two, both with the Halle (room for confusion here). The Dutton one you have is the earlier and, in my view, better one, recorded in 1957 or thereabouts for Pye-Nixa. There's a later one (1968?) for EMI.