BaL 12.11.16 - Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony

[Barbirollians]

This remains very much my favourite VW Symphony although no 6 in particular has been gaining over the years . A work with an extraordinary sense of time and place .

I was surprised to see no recent BAL for it . It is difficult to think of a really bad recording of it .For me the Hickox original version recording is essential listening and of modern recordings I love the Halle/Elder no doubt partly as I was there when the live performance was recorded .

My favourite remains the Halle/Barbirolli from the late 1950s which has real character and this is because he was born in Bloomsbury and lived in that pre WW1 London and for him there was recollection in his interpretation .


Available recordings:-

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels
Hallé Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult (1952)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult (1971) (download)
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis
Hallé Orchestra, Sir Mark Elder
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Dan Godfrey (1923 & 1925 versions)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley (download)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley
London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox (1913 version)
National Youth Orchestra of Wales, Owain Arwel Hughes
Philharmonia Orchestra, Owain Arwel Hughes
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Manze
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Roger Norrington
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn
London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn
State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR Ministry of Culture, Gennady Rozhdestvensky
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Seaman
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Seaman
Philharmonia Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin
London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates (1920 version)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My favourite remains the Halle/Barbirolli from the late 1950s which has real character and this is because he was born in Bloomsbury and lived in that pre WW1 London and for him there was recollection in his interpretation .

I have two Hallé/Barbirolli versions, but I much prefer the later EMI one. I suppose it reflects the JB style I experienced in concert.

Others in my collection: 2 Boults, Handley, Previn, Hickox (original version) & Sir Henry Wood - all good in different ways, though the last of these is pushed rather hard.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I have two Hallé/Barbirolli versions, but I much prefer the later EMI one. I suppose it reflects the JB style I experienced in concert.

Others in my collection: 2 Boults, Handley, Hickox (original version) & Sir Henry Wood - all good in different ways, though the last of these is pushed rather hard.

All these and raise you a few! (Haitink, Norrington, Previn and a real wild-card: Rochester PO/ Seaman.) Guess I must like this symphony... - don't have anything like this list for any of the other VWs, though most manage at least four.

If forced to pick I think I'd go for the Previn; loved it to bits ever since it came out on LP, even in preference to the HMV Boult, my first recording. Happy LP days

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thanks for the reminder. I recently acquired the Previn too.

[pastoralguy]

I'm not the biggest fan of VW but I do love the 'London' symphony. In fact, the Boult LPO on EMI was one of the first CDs I ever purchased back in the day when buying a cd was a big deal! I remember hearing details and harmonies I'd never noticed on steam vinyl and realising that VW was a much better composer than I'd ever given him credit for being. (I'm sure he was very relieved by that! )

The last time I heard it live was at a Prom with BBC Symphony under Leonard Slatkin about ?10-12 years ago when it was coupled with Haydn's symphony with the same nickname. Sounded pretty good to me.

[BBMmk2]

I rather like Richard Hickox's recording on Chandos but if push came to shove be Previn.

[EdgeleyRob]

So many great RVW2s already mentioned.
I admire Bakels on Naxos more and more with every listen,I seem to say this about every RVW symphony whenever these discussions come up.
Manze is now in the mix too,possibly a candidate for the best ever London Symphony ?

[BBMmk2]

So many great RVW2s already mentioned.
I admire Bakels on Naxos more and more with every listen,I seem to say this about every RVW symphony whenever these discussions come up.
Manze is now in the mix too,possibly a candidate for the best ever London Symphony ?

We can't forget Vernon Handley!!

[makropulos]

I love this symphony. I have: Boult on Decca and EMI (very fond of both), Slatkin (which I like), Barbirolli x 2 (the later one is marvellous), Norrington (wrote the booklet notes for the C20 reissue but don't listen to it), Henry Wood (Dutton), and Hickox (essential for playing the original version). That lot does me very nicely. It seems to have been a lucky symphony on records/CDs - there are plenty more good versions, several of them already mentioned.

[antongould]

I have two Hallé/Barbirolli versions, but I much prefer the later EMI one. I suppose it reflects the JB style I experienced in concert.

Others in my collection: 2 Boults, Handley, Previn, Hickox (original version) & Sir Henry Wood - all good in different ways, though the last of these is pushed rather hard.

Have downloaded a Barbirolli / Halle from Apple Music and given the lack of information - or my inability to find it - I am not sure which it is ..... Can anyone provide the timings for the first movement of each?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Have downloaded a Barbirolli / Halle from Apple Music and given the lack of information - or my inability to find it - I am not sure which it is ..... Can anyone provide the timings for the first movement of each?

The 1967 version 1st movement lasts 14:54. The 1959 one is 14.07.

[Bryn]

What, no mention so far of the Yates? I'm with Barby regarding the Pye Golden Guinea Rubber Brolly, but would not happily be without the Hickox and Yates.

[antongould]

The 1967 version 1st movement lasts 14:54. The 1959 one is 14.07.

Many Thanks E_A ... perhaps not the best means of identification, the two performances on Apple Music are shown as 13:39 and 13:07 ......

[PJPJ]

What, no mention so far of the Yates? I'm with Barby regarding the Pye Golden Guinea Rubber Brolly, but would not happily be without the Hickox and Yates.

In addition to those (I thought the Yates impressive) I'd like to keep Eugene Goossens' 1941 recording (scroll to bottom of page):

VW 2

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Many Thanks E_A ... perhaps not the best means of identification, the two performances on Apple Music are shown as 13:39 and 13:07 ......

It sounds like Hattogate all over again.