Top 5 works by William Walton

[vandermolen]

Did we do this before? I can't find an earlier thread but apologies if so.

1: Symphony No.1 (versions I especially like are the early one by Boult, Harty, Sargent, Mackerras and Bryden Thomson).
2: Henry V (arr. Palmer) (Marriner/Christopher Plummer and Walton/Laurence Olivier versions).
3: Viola Concerto (Walton/Menuhin) - there are many fine versions.
4: Sinfonia Concertante for Piano and Orchestra (Sellick/Walton)
5: 'Battle in the Air' from 'Battle of Britain' (Cond. Malcolm Arnold).

[kyjo]

Belshazzar's Feast
Cello Concerto
String Quartet no. 2 in A minor
Symphony no. 1
Viola Concerto

Bonus: Crown Imperial

[Roasted Swan]

I don't often do these lists but since I like Walton so much:

1)  Symphony No.1 - yes Previn/LSO
2)  Troilus & Cressida - Previn/ROHCG...... oh no he never did record this.... drat
3)  Coronation Te Deum - Fremaux/CBSO
4)  Portsmouth Point - Walton/Philharmonia
5)  String Quartet in A minor - Britten Quartet

PS: in my worst pedant mode Vandermolen - its "Battle in the Air" from Battle of Britain which of course is the finest piece of Walton Malcolm Arnold ever wrote

[Symphonic Addict]

Great choices, guys!

Now:

Symphony No. 1 (obviously!  ) (Haitink/PO is still the unbeatable version for me)
Belshazzar's Feast
Variations for orchestra on a theme of Hindemith
Cello Concerto
Piano Quartet

Runner up: Sinfonia concertante (lovely 2nd movement)

[vandermolen]

I don't often do these lists but since I like Walton so much:

1)  Symphony No.1 - yes Previn/LSO
2)  Troilus & Cressida - Previn/ROHCG...... oh no he never did record this.... drat
3)  Coronation Te Deum - Fremaux/CBSO
4)  Portsmouth Point - Walton/Philharmonia
5)  String Quartet in A minor - Britten Quartet

PS: in my worst pedant mode Vandermolen - its "Battle in the Air" from Battle of Britain which of course is the finest piece of Walton Malcolm Arnold ever wrote

No, you're quite right RS. I thought it looked wrong when I wrote it (I've corrected it now) and I suspect that you are right too about it being written by Malcolm Arnold!

Thanks guys for the interesting responses. Of course the Hindemith Variations and Coronation Te Deum (that Fremaux version is terrific) are both marvellous works which I could have included as well. Must give Haitink's recording of Symphony No.1 another listen to as well.

[ritter]

I don't often do these lists but since I like Walton so much:

1)  Symphony No.1 - yes Previn/LSO
2)  Troilus & Cressida - Previn/ROHCG...... oh no he never did record this.... drat
3)  Coronation Te Deum - Fremaux/CBSO
4)  Portsmouth Point - Walton/Philharmonia
5)  String Quartet in A minor - Britten Quartet

PS: in my worst pedant mode Vandermolen - its "Battle in the Air" from Battle of Britain which of course is the finest piece of Walton Malcolm Arnold ever wrote

Good to see Troilus and Cressida on your list, Swan! A wonderful opera IMO, with a particularly magnificently Act II (a sort of huge scherzo in the work's overall structure).

My list would be:

1) Troilus and Cressida
2) Viola Concerto
3) Cello Concerto
4) Coronation Te Deum
5) A Song for the Lord Mayor's Table

Honourable mention: "Touch Her Soft Lois and Part" from Henry V.

[vandermolen]

Interesting that the Viola Concerto is more popular than the Violin Concerto here. I think that it is the greater work.

[Sergeant Rock]

Symphony No. 1 (Gibson)
Symphony No. 2 (Szell)
Violin Concerto (Chung, Previn)
Facade (Lloyd-Jones)
Variations on a Theme of Hindemith (Szell)

[Mirror Image]

Interesting that the Viola Concerto is more popular than the Violin Concerto here. I think that it is the greater work.

Symphony No. 1 (Gibson)
Symphony No. 2 (Szell)
Violin Concerto (Chung, Previn)
Facade (Lloyd-Jones)
Variations on a Theme of Hindemith (Szell)

Not for long!

[vandermolen]

Not for long!

Indeed!

[vandermolen]

Symphony No. 1 (Gibson)
Symphony No. 2 (Szell)
Violin Concerto (Chung, Previn)
Facade (Lloyd-Jones)
Variations on a Theme of Hindemith (Szell)

Nice to see a recommendation for Gibson's recording of Symphony No.1. I've always liked it although it tends to get disparaged in comparative reviews. I like his Sibelius, Nielsen and VW recordings (Symphony No.5) as well. Those Szell recordings are classic accounts.

Here is a comparative survey of some recordings of Symphony No.1. The Previn LSO version is not my favourite:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/jun99/walton.htm

[Sergeant Rock]

Here is a comparative survey of some recordings of Symphony No.1. The Previn LSO version is not my favourite:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/jun99/walton.htm

Thanks for the link to the survey. I already own Gibson and Rattle (along with Davis and Previn's RPO account). The survey convinced me I need to hear Haitink. Ordered it (found a used copy on Amazon DE).

Sarge

[vandermolen]

Thanks for the link to the survey. I already own Gibson and Rattle (along with Davis and Previn's RPO account). The survey convinced me I need to hear Haitink. Ordered it (found a used copy on Amazon DE).

Sarge

My pleasure Sarge. I need to listen to the Haitink again as well. I seem to recall that it had something of a 'granitic' quality to it.

[vandermolen]

I'm delighted to find that this set features the Haitink performance of Symphony No.1: