Top six Vaughan Williams recordings.

vandermolen · July 06, 2015, 10:18:30 AM

Symphony 6 (Boult/Decca)
A Sea Symphony (Haitink)
A London Symphony (1913 version, Hickox)
The Pilgrim's Progress (Hickox/Chandos)
Symphony 9 (Stokowski/Cala)
Violin Sonata etc (Music Group of London/EMI)

Archaic Torso of Apollo · July 07, 2015, 07:17:11 AM

Symphony #4, Berglund/RPO
Symphony #4, Bernstein/NYPO
Symphony #5, Barbirolli/Philh.
Symphonies 6 & 9, Handley/RLPO
On Wenlock Edge + Blake Songs, Partridge
Piano Cto. et al., Judd/Wass/RLPO

vandermolen · July 07, 2015, 07:32:45 AM

Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on July 07, 2015, 07:17:11 AM
Symphony #4, Berglund/RPO
Symphony #4, Bernstein/NYPO
Symphony #5, Barbirolli/Philh.
Symphonies 6 & 9, Handley/RLPO
On Wenlock Edge + Blake Songs, Partridge
Piano Cto. et al., Judd/Wass/RLPO

VMT (very many thanks) for responding. Berglund's recording of Symphony 4 is marvellous and was the top choice in BBC Radio 3's 'Building a Library' programme on Vaughan Williams's Symphony 4. His sibelian version of No.6 is very fine too. The Bernstein is great as is Mitropolous in Symphony 4. The harps at the end of Vernon Handley's recording of Symphony 9 are the clearest of all and very moving. I like the Boult Vronsky and Babin two piano version of the Piano Concerto.

Archaic Torso of Apollo · July 07, 2015, 07:38:50 AM

One I considered listing was the Boult/LSO version of Job, but I've only heard it once.

Mirror Image · July 07, 2015, 07:49:57 AM

Picking six favorite Vaughan Williams recordings is like picking a favorite ice cream flavor, but here goes nothing:

Symphony No. 5 - Bryden Thomson, Chandos
The Lark Ascending - Hugh Bean, Boult, EMI
Flos Campi - Lawrence Power, Brabbins, Hyperion
Job: A Masque for Dancing - Boult, EMI
Symphony No. 8 - Bryden Thomson, Chandos
Oboe Concerto - John Williams, Berglund, EMI

vandermolen · July 07, 2015, 10:18:02 AM

Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on July 07, 2015, 07:38:50 AM
One I considered listing was the Boult/LSO version of Job, but I've only heard it once.

I considered that too. It is dedicated to Boult who made four recordings of it (Everest/Decca/EMI x 2). The first time I ever heard the work was with Boult conducting at the Royal Festival Hall on 12th October 1972. I wonder if anyone can tell me the significance of that date in relation to Vaughan Williams.

vandermolen · July 07, 2015, 10:19:35 AM

Quote from: Mirror Image on July 07, 2015, 07:49:57 AM
Picking six favorite Vaughan Williams recordings is like picking a favorite ice cream flavor, but here goes nothing:

Symphony No. 5 - Bryden Thomson, Chandos
The Lark Ascending - Hugh Bean, Boult, EMI
Flos Campi - Lawrence Power, Brabbins, Hyperion
Job: A Masque for Dancing - Boult, EMI
Symphony No. 8 - Bryden Thomson, Chandos
Oboe Concerto - John Williams, Berglund, EMI

Great choices John. The Hugh Bean version of LA is in a class of its own. Must listen to the Bryden Thomson version of Symphony 8 again.

Mirror Image · July 07, 2015, 10:39:22 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on July 07, 2015, 10:19:35 AM
Great choices John. The Hugh Bean version of LA is in a class of its own. Must listen to the Bryden Thomson version of Symphony 8 again.

Thanks, Jeffrey. Thomson's 8th is outstanding, but you probably already know I'm a hardcore advocate of his RVW cycle.

vandermolen · July 08, 2015, 05:50:55 AM

Quote from: Mirror Image on July 07, 2015, 10:39:22 AM
Thanks, Jeffrey. Thomson's 8th is outstanding, but you probably already know I'm a hardcore advocate of his RVW cycle.

I share your enthusiasm for it too John. The cycle was underrated, though his version of No 6, rightly IMHO, got into the old BBC Music Magazine Guide to the top 1000 CDs. His Walton Symphony 1 on Chandos is magnificent too.