BaL 9.07.22 - Walton: Symphony no. 1

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30 am
Building a Library
Tom Service chooses his favourite recording of William Walton’s Symphony No. 1 in B flat minor.

In 1932, with the spectacular success of Belshazzar’s Feast, plus concertos for violin and viola behind him, Walton began his Symphony No. 1. But, always a slow worker, the symphony took him two painful years to complete – painful because what lay behind most of the Symphony was the emotional upheaval that came with the end of a relationship. The result was the greatest English symphony of its time, its darkly menacing first movement bursting with seemingly elemental power, is followed by a bitter scherzo marked Presto ‘con malizia’ (’with malice’), a melancholic slow movement and a joyful major key Finale.

Available versions:-

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy *
New Haven Symphony Orchestra, William Boughton
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
English Northern Philharmonia, Paul Daniel
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis (SACD)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Louis Frémaux
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Edward Gardner (SACD)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson
Philharmonia Orchestra, Bernard Haitink *
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley
Orchestre National de Lille, Owain Arwel Hughes (SACD)
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits
Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della RAI, Herbert von Karajan *
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Siir Charles Mackerras *
London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn *
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, André Previn *
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent *
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, William Walton
Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir William Walton
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir William Walton *


* = download only

[pastoralguy]

Could anyone really better the classic Previn/LSO version?

[mahlerfan]

Thinking about the CDs on my shelf....

Slatkin & MacKerras - gotos
Previn LSO - Brits insist on this one...
Brabbins - meh zzzzz
Ashkenazy soo underrated...
Tod - all the music, none the conductor
Paul Daniel on Naxos - if it were my only CD, it wouldn't be a problem...
Colin Davis, LSO Live - No
Haven't listened to the Gibson in ages, positive memories - must listen again before the broadcast

General:
Awesome first movement, great scherzo, and then, and then....

LSO prospectus/Hamilton Harty promise/deadline (missed) induced fall-off?

[Petrushka]

Could anyone really better the classic Previn/LSO version?

Not for me, but LPO/Slatkin and RPO/Ashkenazy come very close. Previn's remake with the RPO surprisingly lacks the fire and electricity of the earlier LSO. Haitink, with the Philharmonia in terrific sound, is a real slow burner building up to a superb finale, an approach that carries its own conviction which some might prefer.

[Darloboy]

Could anyone really better the classic Previn/LSO version?

Not as yet. The symphony has only been covered by BaL on 3 previous occasions - the LSO/Previn was first choice each time (Edward Greenfield in June 84; Stephen Johnson in Jan 93 & Martin Cotton in Feb 2013).

No doubt Tom Service will pick another recording just to be contrary.

[Serial_Apologist]

From the thread spiel, I wasn't aware Walton had composed a violin concerto before the one he's usually known for, from 1939.

[pastoralguy]

From the thread spiel, I wasn't aware Walton had composed a violin concerto before the one he's usually known for, from 1939.

Seems to have been a mistake in the BBC’s blurb. Walton wrote it in 1938-39 for Mr. Heifetz. He changed the orchestration in 1944.

[cloughie]

Could anyone really better the classic Previn/LSO version?

Maybe Previn with the RPO!

[pastoralguy]

Maybe Previn with the RPO!

There’s no doubt the recording is better but, as mentioned by Petrushka, it doesn’t really catch fire as a performance. (Imho!)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Seems to have been a mistake in the BBC’s blurb.

I'm sure the people at Radio 3 know their stuff. But I have many doubts about those who do the webpage.

[Parry1912]

The Ashkenazy recording has completely passed me by. I shall have to remedy that.

[richardfinegold]

I first heard this work a few years ago, Semyon Bychkov leading a Concert with the Chicago SO. I bought the Previn (RPO) right after but that is it for me so far. Karajan peaks my curiosity

[Wolfram]

Is Sir Simon's recording out of the catalogue?

[Goon525]

My bet is that this won’t be the first recent occasion where ‘classic’ Previn is shown to have been viewed through rose-tinted spectacles. We’ll see!

[Petrushka]

It's a pity that the Colin Davis/LSO is recorded at such a low voltage as I remember the R3 broadcast being fine. However, I recall a 1977 performance from Sir Colin and the BBCSO that was terrific (as heard on R3). The same goes for a knockout performance from the 1982 Proms with James Loughran, again with the BBCSO (also heard on R3).

It seems to me to be one of those pieces that benefits from being heard live.