BaL 12.11.16 - Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony

[EdgeleyRob]

I was wondering how many of you restrict the number of recordings of any one work in your collections to a specific number, as much for storage reasons as for anything else. I did think a while back that I'd stick to half-a-dozen of each work but it hasn't always worked out like that! I remember an avid member of the Sibelius Society once said (was it in here?) that he had over 60 recordings of Sibelius's 2nd Symphony, which is going well over the top.

For what it's worth, my RVW "London" recordings go over the half-dozen: ... ie: (1) Wood / Queen's Hall Orchestra (Dutton; rec. 1936); (2) Goossens / Cincinnati Orchestra (Biddulph; rec. 1941: 1920 edition); (3) Mitropoulos / NBC Symphony (Pristine; 1945 broadcast); (4) Boult / LPO (Decca; rec. 1952); (5) Barbirolli / Halle (Pye/EMI; rec. 1957); (6) Sargent / Chicago Symphony (CSO 'Collector's Choice' Boxed Set; 1967 broadcast); (7) Previn / LSO (RCA; rec. 1972); (8) Handley / LPO (CFP; rec. 1977); (9) Rozhdestvensky / USSR State Symphony (Melodya; 1988 broadcast); (10) Slatkin / Philharmonia (BMG; rec. 1991). (11) Hickox / LSO (Chandos; rec. 2000: 1913 edition); (12) Yates / RSNO (Dutton; rec. 2015: 1920 edition). 12 versions are quite enough, so notwithstanding the final BAL choice I shan't be acquiring any more! I wonder how many RVW collectors have more than 12 on the shelf?

You need Bakels as well as ferney's three suggestions.
I can't top or match 12,only 9

[Barbirollians]

Boult's stereo London is available not only as a download as the opening post suggests but also in the bumper Boult conducts VW set 13 CDs and available for a little over £20 - there are also older CD reissues including a very cheap British composers series CD set of the symphonies on Amazon .

[visualnickmos]

Owain Arwel Hughes is a very good conductor indeed, and Ive heard good things about the Philharmonia, too.

That's what I thought!

[Nick Armstrong]

Caught up with this today - what a great listen. On the shelf here already: the earlier Boult, Previn, Haitink and Hickox.

I'm now tempted to add at least one other - but perhaps not the winner.

This was a most enjoyable BAL, though I certainly don't agree with the final choice. That doesn't really matter since the whole thing was so cogently argued and interestingly presented. .... But as I say, that's not the important thing: this was one of the best thought-out BALs I've heard for some time.

Agreed.

the Handley (I was struck how marvellously detailed the recording is - something I hadn't remembered).

I must say that's not how it struck me from the extracts played; the recording whose detail and clarity really shook me during this review was the early Barbirolli. Details leapt out from this version which were submerged in the Handley extract played immediately afterwards. Hence I emerged from the programme thinking very much along these lines:

the Barbirolli is so brilliantly recorded, it may not sound exactly like a top-notch 'modern' recording, it cannot be faulted on any count, and the label 'historical' is, I feel rather a put-down in this case. Fine detail, depth, clarity, just stunning high-quality rich sound all round. Those EMI technicians and recording engineers, et al, were nothing short of technical geniuses in my books, and have given us some the greatest recordings in the history of recorded music.

Barbirolli's 1957 'London' is one of my all-time fav. recordings.

That Barbirolli is the one I really want to acquire after this BAL.

Nobody has yet (AFAIK) mentioned the Rozhdestvensky from 'Leningrad' with the USSR Min. of Culture etc, etc,Orch.

I thought the extract played sounded fab and this is the other one I'm tempted to explore...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Having discovered that I don't have the Handley (so small wonder the excerpts were more detailed than I'd remembered ) I've played the first Barbirolli and Boults over the past couple of days and agree with the praise for the sound - and performance - of the former: the engineers managed to capture the conductor's keen ear for detail and orchestral balance superbly. The Boult from just two years earlier hasn't aged as well (I have the first DECCA CD issue - I don't know if subsequent reissues have remastered the sound): much "boxier" and more restricted than Barbirolli - it's perfectly acceptable in the first three movements, but has a nasty moment of "drop-out" in the Finale, and a tea tray filling in for the tamtam at the climax of the finale. A pity - the pacing of Boult's performance is spot on.

My copy of the score arrived this afternoon - I shall treat myself to Haitink's recording tonight.

[BBMmk2]

You guys are most certainly tempting me to buy again!! :)

[Cockney Sparrow]

Cali - the Rozhdestvensky may well be on Apple Music - (its on Google Play Music).
The Amazon entry (ASIN: B00JU5DGY8) for the symphonies box set has a back cover image (using my magnifier on the screen) it shows Polyansky as the director of the USSR State Chamber choir and the conductor of the orchestra as Rozhdestvensky. (Melodiya isn't on Naxos Music Library, BTW)

[Barbirollians]

Caught up with this today - what a great listen. On the shelf here already: the earlier Boult, Previn, Haitink and Hickox.

I'm now tempted to add at least one other - but perhaps not the winner.


Agreed.



I must say that's not how it struck me from the extracts played; the recording whose detail and clarity really shook me during this review was the early Barbirolli. Details leapt out from this version which were submerged in the Handley extract played immediately afterwards. Hence I emerged from the programme thinking very much along these lines:



That Barbirolli is the one I really want to acquire after this BAL.




I thought the extract played sounded fab and this is the other one I'm tempted to explore...

With Barbirolli you also get the premiere recording of VW 8 which is also fantastic .

It is such a shame that there is no extant recording of Barbirolli in 3 and 9 . The Sea Symphony I am afraid I always struggle with .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Sea Symphony I am afraid I always struggle with .

It doesn't seem to go down well with many forumites. It was the first VW symphony LP I ever bought - just to try it out, and I've been hooked ever since. It was the first Boult recording on 2 Decca Ace of Clubs discs. Side 1: 1st movement; Side 2: 2nd & 3rd movements with a bit of the the 4th; Side 3: The rest of the 4th movement. (Side 4 was The Wasps).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It was the first Boult recording on 2 Decca Ace of Clubs discs.

Worth hearing if only for Isobel Bailey's contribution - I suppose my favourite version of a work I find frustrating in consistency. (It's also the work I dislike that I have most recordings of [5]- which could be the title of a new Thread!)

[Pulcinella]

The Sea Symphony I am afraid I always struggle with.

It does not really behove me to say keep struggling, as I fear I will never get to like Beethoven's ninth (or the Missa Solemnis, for that matter) no matter how long I struggle and what 'advice' I might be given, but for me the Sea Symphony is one of those pieces that will always give me a tingle factor (if well played, of course!): in the short orchestral interlude a few minutes into the last movement, between the words 'some hidden prophetic intention' and 'Now first it seems' (just before letter B in the score).

But no dispute over the London; I'm just pleased that at long last ferney has seen the light!

The Halle/Barbirolli pairing of 2 and 8 is a very special CD in my collection.

[Nick Armstrong]

With Barbirolli you also get the premiere recording of VW 8 which is also fantastic .

The Sea Symphony I am afraid I always struggle with .

No downloads being available, my CD of the Barbirolli/Hallé (the first I've bought for ages - possibly all year!) is on its way

I really don't understand the prevalent difficulty with the Sea Symphony though! I loved it the first time I heard the Haitink recording (which became a 'demonstration' disc when I was searching for new hifi years ago).

In addition, I've recounted here more than once my epiphanic experience with VW 1 whilst on Bora Bora, which only served to enhance my affection for the piece...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

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I really don't understand the prevalent difficulty with the Sea Symphony though! I loved it the first time I heard the Haitink recording (which became a 'demonstration' disc when I was searching for new hifi years ago).

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Thanks Cali. I've just ordered it.

[EdgeleyRob]

It does not really behove me to say keep struggling, as I fear I will never get to like Beethoven's ninth (or the Missa Solemnis, for that matter) no matter how long I struggle and what 'advice' I might be given, but for me the Sea Symphony is one of those pieces that will always give me a tingle factor (if well played, of course!): in the short orchestral interlude a few minutes into the last movement, between the words 'some hidden prophetic intention' and 'Now first it seems' (just before letter B in the score).

But no dispute over the London; I'm just pleased that at long last ferney has seen the light!

The Halle/Barbirolli pairing of 2 and 8 is a very special CD in my collection.

Sea over LvB 9 every day of the week.
Loadsa tingle factors for me Pulcie,starting with the opening fanfare.

[Serial_Apologist]

With Barbirolli you also get the premiere recording of VW 8 which is also fantastic .

I acquired that recording on a cassette for a quid at the local market, last summer!