Vaughan Williams's Veranda

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Thank you Jeffrey.  That was awfully sweet of you to do so!   

Best wishes,

PD

[Mirror Image]

I've done some high-level international research on your behalf PD (by checking the Amazon.com site  ) and can confirm that you can pick up a second-hand copy of the Vronsky/Babin/Boult performance of the Concerto for Two Pianos for under $6.00. Furthermore it's coupled with one of the greatest performances of 'Job' (LSO with the dedicatee, Boult). Why does Amazon.com just have a 'Music' section while Amazon UK has both a 'CD' and 'Classical Music' option?
https://www.amazon.com/Job-Concerto-Two-Pianos-Orchestra/dp/B00002DDY9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Vaughan+Williams+concerto+for+two+pianos&qid=1595510103&s=music&sr=1-1

Amazon US's site is atrocious and, furthermore, so it their listings for CDs and LPs. Like, for example, you have multiple listings for the same recording or when you go to one of their listings the reviews for the item are for the wrong recording. Then there are all the dead links or wrong links. It's one colossal mess. How I've been able to navigate their site since 1998 is beyond me.

[vandermolen]

Thank you Jeffrey.  That was awfully sweet of you to do so!   

Best wishes,

PD

Not at all PD! It was my pleasure 

[vandermolen]

Here's a review of the newly released CD of Barbirolli conducting Symphony No.6 at Barbirolli's 70th birthday concert. I agree with the review and especially the comparison with Barbirolli's Orfeo recording of the same work with the Bavarian RSO. I too prefer the Hallé version overall but the slower pace of the Bavarian orchestra in the finale/epilogue works better. My overall favourite version is Boult with the LPO on Decca and in comparison with that the Hallé version sounds rushed. David Hurwitz likes the Abravanel/Utah recording on Vanguard and I totally agree with him that it's a great disc.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/Jul/Barbirolli_70th_SJB1098.htm
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Here is Mr Hurwitz's interesting video in praise of Maurice Abravanel. His discussion of the VW disc is about half way through:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fTTWHBcWn2E

[vandermolen]

From WAYLTN thread.
Vaughan Williams: Violin Sonata
Good to have another recording of one of my very favourite chamber works and not just by Vaughan Williams.
However, I have to say that I'm slightly disappointed by the performance which felt rushed and unreflective at the start and then too slow. Maybe I have been spoilt by my familiarity (since LP days - it may have been the first chamber music that I ever bought) of the unmatched IMO performance by the Music Group of London. I may warm to this recording on further plays (it only arrived today) and others may enjoy it more:
Edit: listening to it on my better sound system I realise that the violin is very spotlighted and the piano quite recessed and the recording doesn't have much depth to it. Others may well respond differently so don't be put off.

EDIT: Full marks, however, for the beautifully played and movingly intimate version of 'The Lark Ascending' for Violin and Piano - the highlight of the disc for me.

[Roasted Swan]

From WAYLTN thread.
Vaughan Williams: Violin Sonata
Good to have another recording of one of my very favourite chamber works and not just by Vaughan Williams.
However, I have to say that I'm slightly disappointed by the performance which felt rushed and unreflective at the start and then too slow. Maybe I have been spoilt by my familiarity (since LP days - it may have been the first chamber music that I ever bought) of the unmatched IMO performance by the Music Group of London. I may warm to this recording on further plays (it only arrived today) and others may enjoy it more:
Edit: listening to it on my better sound system I realise that the violin is very spotlighted and the piano quite recessed and the recording doesn't have much depth to it. Others may well respond differently so don't be put off.

EDIT: Full marks, however, for the beautifully played and movingly intimate version of 'The Lark Ascending' for Violin and Piano - the highlight of the disc for me.

Have you heard Lydia Mordkovitch's collection of VW's piano & violin music?  Quite an impressive performance and interesting to have one's pre-conceptions challenged.  It includes the Sonata and 'Lark', but also the 6 Studies, a transcription of the Greensleeves Fantasia and the quite rare "2 Pieces" (Romance & Pastorale) But I like you, have trouble forgetting Hugh Bean!

[vandermolen]

Have you heard Lydia Mordkovitch's collection of VW's piano & violin music?  Quite an impressive performance and interesting to have one's pre-conceptions challenged.  It includes the Sonata and 'Lark', but also the 6 Studies, a transcription of the Greensleeves Fantasia and the quite rare "2 Pieces" (Romance & Pastorale) But I like you, have trouble forgetting Hugh Bean!

It rings a bell but I certainly didn't buy it through Amazon. It looks like a fine CD and I think very highly of her playing. I did enjoy this CD which features the Violin Sonata:

[Pohjolas Daughter]

From WAYLTN thread.
Vaughan Williams: Violin Sonata
Good to have another recording of one of my very favourite chamber works and not just by Vaughan Williams.
However, I have to say that I'm slightly disappointed by the performance which felt rushed and unreflective at the start and then too slow. Maybe I have been spoilt by my familiarity (since LP days - it may have been the first chamber music that I ever bought) of the unmatched IMO performance by the Music Group of London. I may warm to this recording on further plays (it only arrived today) and others may enjoy it more:
Edit: listening to it on my better sound system I realise that the violin is very spotlighted and the piano quite recessed and the recording doesn't have much depth to it. Others may well respond differently so don't be put off.

EDIT: Full marks, however, for the beautifully played and movingly intimate version of 'The Lark Ascending' for Violin and Piano - the highlight of the disc for me.

Interesting, I hadn't realized that there was a version of for violin and piano of the Lark.  Has it been recorded much?  I see that I do have the Hugh Bean version in my big EMI boxed VW set; however, for me growing up, it was the one with Iona Brown that I first listened to and loved.  Will have to check out the HB recording.  Do you gents like the IB with Sir Neville Marriner and TAOSMITF?

PD

[Roasted Swan]

Interesting, I hadn't realized that there was a version of for violin and piano of the Lark.  Has it been recorded much?  I see that I do have the Hugh Bean version in my big EMI boxed VW set; however, for me growing up, it was the one with Iona Brown that I first listened to and loved.  Will have to check out the HB recording.  Do you gents like the IB with Sir Neville Marriner and TAOSMITF?

PD

Yes for sure Iona Brown's recording is excellent - I can picture the LP cover very clearly - I think it was the first version I bought as an ARGO record (great recordings all).   The Hugh Bean came originally as the coupling of Boult's Symphony No.6 - but I'd bought the Previn set so didn't encounter the Bean until it appeared on a different compilation.  For me he just shades Brown.....

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yes for sure Iona Brown's recording is excellent - I can picture the LP cover very clearly - I think it was the first version I bought as an ARGO record (great recordings all).   The Hugh Bean came originally as the coupling of Boult's Symphony No.6 - but I'd bought the Previn set so didn't encounter the Bean until it appeared on a different compilation.  For me he just shades Brown.....

Nice to hear your background and thoughts on it RS.

I'd LOVE to get ahold of a nice LP copy of the Argo.   

PD

[vandermolen]

Interesting, I hadn't realized that there was a version of for violin and piano of the Lark.  Has it been recorded much?  I see that I do have the Hugh Bean version in my big EMI boxed VW set; however, for me growing up, it was the one with Iona Brown that I first listened to and loved.  Will have to check out the HB recording.  Do you gents like the IB with Sir Neville Marriner and TAOSMITF?

PD

Now that I've worked out what 'IB' and 'TAOSMITF' mean (I thought the latter had a connection with Taoist philosophy  ) I can answer your question. That was never my favourite recording of TLA ( ) I preferred the one with Hugh Bean and Boult conducting. The Violin and Piano version of TLA have been recorded before but the new version is both beautifully played and recorded.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Now that I've worked out what 'IB' and 'TAOSMITF' mean (I thought the latter had a connection with Taoist philosophy  ) I can answer your question. That was never my favourite recording of TLA ( ) I preferred the one with Hugh Bean and Boult conducting. The Violin and Piano version of TLA have been recorded before but the new version is both beautifully played and recorded.

heeheeheeheee [I think that you can figure out what that means Jeffrey?    ].  I think that I'll leave the HB/B/symphony's name? LSO or??? for Sunday afternoon to listen to.  And, in the meantime, I'll see whether or not I can find on YT an upload of the version for v&p.   

Best wishes,

PD

[vandermolen]

heeheeheeheee [I think that you can figure out what that means Jeffrey?    ].  I think that I'll leave the HB/B/symphony's name? LSO or??? for Sunday afternoon to listen to.  And, in the meantime, I'll see whether or not I can find on YT an upload of the version for v&p.   

Best wishes,

PD

Here's a V and P only version (as originally conceived) of TLA PD:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lark+ascending+violin+and+piano&&view=detail&mid=89EB07C8561489AB16AE89EB07C8561489AB16AE&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dlark%2Bascending%2Bviolin%2Band%2Bpiano%26FORM%3DHDRSC4
Good to see Emma Peel in the front row.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

TY, J!   

PD

[vandermolen]

TY, J!   

PD

MP PD

[vandermolen]

Nice to see a VW symphony on BIS. Well reviewed too:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/Aug/VW_sy5_BIS2367.htm

[Biffo]

Nice to see a VW symphony on BIS. Well reviewed too:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/Aug/VW_sy5_BIS2367.htm

Very tempting and refreshing to see an imaginative coupling

[vandermolen]

Very tempting and refreshing to see an imaginative coupling

Yes, I agree

[vandermolen]

Well, I greatly enjoyed this performance of the 5th Symphony, the ending of which is the most beautiful that I have heard on disc. It is a reflective, beautifully recorded performance with a marvellous Finzi coupling, which is a perfect accompaniment to the VW symphony. Having said that I do not think that this version of the symphony jumps straight to my No.1 choice and there were times when I found the two central movements a little ponderous and I found my attention wandering. I prefer my VW Symphony No.5 to be a bit more urgent and 'Sibelian' (after all it is dedicated to Sibelius) and prefer the performances by Koussevitsky, VW himself, Previn, Thomson and Barbirolli (EMI). Still, don't be put off - this is a fine disc which I shall be playing again soon:

[vandermolen]

Copied from the WAYLTN thread:
Now playing. Vaughan Williams: Heroic Elegy and Triumphal Epilogue (1901-2). Possibly my favourite (along with the Piano Quintet) of his early, unpublished works. I find it memorable and, in places, moving with odd flashes of Vaughan Williams's mature style. It sounds a bit like the music of VW's teachers Parry and Stanford but I see that as a plus: