BaL 12.11.16 - Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony

[Barbirollians]

Having obtained a copy of the EMI Barbirolli VW2 I do notknow what the reviewer who dismissed it was going on about . It may have less obvious character than the Pye version but there are loads of compensations in particular the nostalgic rose tinted depiction of Edwardian London has a yearning personal quality that is very affecting and the Halle strings really give their all .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

BaL 12.11.16 - Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony

0930
Building a Library: Ralph Vaughan Williams's A London Symphony. Mark Lowther makes a recommendation from the available recordings. Despite the sound of the famous Westminster chimes, the composer said that while the title may suggest a programmatic piece it was intended to be heard as absolute music. He suggested that "Symphony by a Londoner" might be a better title.

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)

[Thropplenoggin]

A lovely symphony that I was only just listening to last night, containing one of the most beautiful slow movements in the symphonic repertoire. I'd love to know what instrument(s) play(s) the haunting motif that recurs in it. It's reappearance and elegiac tone I find reminiscent of the 'Aino' trombone motif in Sibelius's 7th.

I'd probably plump for Haitink/LPO though was listening to the Manze last night; I remain undecided about it and whether he rather overeggs the motif in the slow movement.

[Bryn]

The last in the list (the Yates) is of the 1920 revision coupled with the Piano Concerto in its 2 piano version. It is not an arrangement of the Symphony as implied.

[Pabmusic]

...

Leon McCawley, John Lenehan, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Martin Yates (version for 2 pianos and orchestra, arranged by Joseph Cooper in collaboration with the composer)

I believe this is the 1920 version in its only modern recording (see the Godfrey and Goosens recordings for the other two appearances). We had a whole thread on this in September. Yates' performance is not outstanding enough to be selected, but I for one prefer the 1920 score rather than the 1933-36 version we all know, which has several cuts too far.

Haven't you given the details for the 2-piano concerto, which is also on the disc?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I particularly admire the 1967 EMI Barbirolli recording, deleted at present, and not to be confused with the earlier Nixa recording in the above list.

[umslopogaas]

A minor correction: I have the Barbirolli/Halle version on LP (HMV ASD 2360)and sleeve and disc are dated 1968.

[Barbirollians]

I particularly admire the 1967 EMI Barbirolli recording, deleted at present, and not to be confused with the earlier Nixa recording in the above list.

So do I but I think I love the 1958 even more . The Halle/Elder is very fine and I was at the concert when it was recorded .

[Barbirollians]

Should we merge our Summer BAL thread with this ?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A minor correction: I have the Barbirolli/Halle version on LP (HMV ASD 2360)and sleeve and disc are dated 1968.

Absolutely right!

But recorded in July 1967.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Should we merge our Summer BAL thread with this ?

Give me a few minutes...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Done.

[visualnickmos]

Done.

I'm not sure what's going on? I looked at 'Summer BAL' threads and saw no mention of this.....???? probably just me being dense.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm not sure what's going on? I looked at 'Summer BAL' threads and saw no mention of this.....???? probably just me being dense.

Not at all. I was requested to merge the two threads, so all comments on the Summer BaL thread are now moved to this one.

[Bryn]

Give me a few minutes...

How about the Yates entry. That still needs editing.