Sir William Walton

[vandermolen]

Writing in 1967 the musicologist Deryck Cooke regarded Walton's First Symphony, along with Vaughan Williams's 4th Symphony, Sibelius's 7th Symphony and Nielsen's 5th Symphony to be amongst the greatest of the 20th Century.
Two other recommendations for recordings:

[Symphonic Addict]

It seems that I'm the only one to have the Haitink/P.O. recording of the Symphony No. 1 in high esteem here. It was the first recording I ever heard of the piece and it still remains as my favorite overall. In spite of its "slow pacing", it doesn't lack power and punch, and the timpani are glorious.

[vers la flamme]

I saw the Rattle Walton 1 at the used bookstore the other day for $1. I didn't buy it. Was this the right call?

[Roasted Swan]

I saw the Rattle Walton 1 at the used bookstore the other day for $1. I didn't buy it. Was this the right call?

Yes.... I actually like Rattle (particularly in his CBSO days) more than a lot of folk and you'd think that Walton 1 would be right up his street.  Its perfectly good but simply put there are better - I just don't think Rattle "believes" in Walton (or Elgar or Vaughan Williams really) so its a case of going through the motions rather than performing from the heart.

[vandermolen]

It seems that I'm the only one to have the Haitink/P.O. recording of the Symphony No. 1 in high esteem here. It was the first recording I ever heard of the piece and it still remains as my favorite overall. In spite of its "slow pacing", it doesn't lack power and punch, and the timpani are glorious.

No, I like it too Cesar - I had the LP.
Another one of my favourite Walton discs is:

[Lisztianwagner]

Is the Ashkenazy's recording of Walton's symphonies the same as this one?



Here the symphonies are matched with the Violin Concerto (Chung/Previn/LSO), the Viola Concerto (Neubauer/Litton/BSO) and the Cello Concerto (Cohen/Litton/BSO).

[vandermolen]

Is the Ashkenazy's recording of Walton's symphonies the same as this one?



Here the symphonies are matched with the Violin Concerto (Chung/Previn/LSO), the Viola Concerto (Neubauer/Litton/BSO) and the Cello Concerto (Cohen/Litton/BSO).

Yes, it is indeed.

[Lisztianwagner]

Thank you all for the suggestions, you've given me much to think about. Being a great Ashkenazy's fan, his Symphonies recording looks very tempting, but so do the others (Previn, Sargent, Haitink, Thomson, etc.).......I'll listen to as much as I can before deciding. I'm also very curious to try the Concertos and the Henry V film score.

[vandermolen]

Thank you all for the suggestions, you've given me much to think about. Being a great Ashkenazy's fan, his Symphonies recording looks very tempting, but so do the others (Previn, Sargent, Haitink, Thomson, etc.).......I'll listen to as much as I can before deciding. I'm also very curious to try the Concertos and the Henry V film score.

I'd recommend this recording:

[ritter]

And so that Ilaria has a short amuse-gueule of Henry V, this little jewel, Touch her Soft Lips and Part (here conducted by Marriner --I don't know if it0s extracted from the CD Jeffrey posted above):

https://www.youtube.com/v/hBzapuX_31s

And another favourite Walton piece, which might become pertinent in some months' time (I certainly hope it does ):

https://www.youtube.com/v/QANTLzPTzp4

[Roasted Swan]

Thank you all for the suggestions, you've given me much to think about. Being a great Ashkenazy's fan, his Symphonies recording looks very tempting, but so do the others (Previn, Sargent, Haitink, Thomson, etc.).......I'll listen to as much as I can before deciding. I'm also very curious to try the Concertos and the Henry V film score.

The Ashkenazy disc is very good - my mistake to omit it from my list of options.  Walton was very smitten by Chung (musically and otherwise!) and her recording of the violin conc is excellent - as are the Litton other two string concerti.  The Cello concerto is one of Walton's least instantly appealing works but its grown on me over time.  In other words that Decca Twofer is a good bet!

[Lisztianwagner]

The Ashkenazy disc is very good - my mistake to omit it from my list of options.  Walton was very smitten by Chung (musically and otherwise!) and her recording of the violin conc is excellent - as are the Litton other two string concerti.  The Cello concerto is one of Walton's least instantly appealing works but its grown on me over time.  In other words that Decca Twofer is a good bet!

Thanks, so that set could be a good compromise to start exploring Walton, good to know!

And so that Ilaria has a short amuse-gueule of Henry V, this little jewel, Touch her Soft Lips and Part (here conducted by Marriner --I don't know if it0s extracted from the CD Jeffrey posted above):

https://www.youtube.com/v/hBzapuX_31s

And another favourite Walton piece, which might become pertinent in some months' time (I certainly hope it does ):

https://www.youtube.com/v/QANTLzPTzp4

Thanks, Rafael, every suggestion is very welcome, I'll have a listen to these pieces too!

I'd recommend this recording:

Henry V

Christopher Plummer, Neville Marriner/Academy of St Martin in the Fields

It looks really promising, Plummer, as well as Olivier, was a well-known shakespearean interpreter.

[vandermolen]

Thanks, so that set could be a good compromise to start exploring Walton, good to know!

Thanks, Rafael, every suggestion is very welcome, I'll have a listen to these pieces too!

It looks really promising, Plummer, as well as Olivier, was a well-known shakespearean interpreter.

Yes, I have the Plummer and Olivier versions, and both are excellent in different ways. I also have a version narrated by John 'Bergerac' Nettles and Michael Sheen (rather too closely miked with the orchestra rather distant). BBC Music Magazine released an enjoyable version narrated by Samuel West. The Plummer is the most complete version, but Olivier has a unique atmosphere to it. I don't understand why the Olivier Hamlet has never AFAIK been released on CD.

[Irons]

A red-hot performance of the 1st, or as it was known then, 'Symphony' from Sir Hamilton Harty. A 1935 recording.

https://youtu.be/uXbuon4FJDQ

[vandermolen]

A red-hot performance of the 1st, or as it was known then, 'Symphony' from Sir Hamilton Harty. A 1935 recording.

https://youtu.be/uXbuon4FJDQ

Yes, it's fabulous.

[Symphonic Addict]

A red-hot performance of the 1st, or as it was known then, 'Symphony' from Sir Hamilton Harty. A 1935 recording.

https://youtu.be/uXbuon4FJDQ

For a recording of 1935, it sounds significantly good. However, some details are poor like the timpani part is not very audible.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

A red-hot performance of the 1st, or as it was known then, 'Symphony' from Sir Hamilton Harty. A 1935 recording.

https://youtu.be/uXbuon4FJDQ

Excellent performance and hip cover art.

[vandermolen]

Yes.... I actually like Rattle (particularly in his CBSO days) more than a lot of folk and you'd think that Walton 1 would be right up his street.  Its perfectly good but simply put there are better - I just don't think Rattle "believes" in Walton (or Elgar or Vaughan Williams really) so its a case of going through the motions rather than performing from the heart.

I (belatedly) agree with this verdict on Rattle.

[Luke]

The book I am writing, about composers and 'place' in British music, can find little space for Walton as he's generally not a very place-oriented composer. But, when considering why so many composers from the North left it, I did love this little line from him describing his time as a chorister at Christchurch, Oxford. It seems we have 'it's grim up north' to thank for all that wonderful music:

I thought 'I must make myself interesting somehow or when my voice breaks, I'll be sent home to Oldham. What can I do? Write music.' So I did.

[vandermolen]

From WAYLTN thread:
Walton Symphony No.1
New Haven SO
Cond. William Boughton

A very successful account of this great work.
The oboe passage at the start has just the right fragile quality to it which is essential to my enjoyment of the work (the famous Previn version, while well played, is too 'matter-of-fact' for my liking - I never liked that performance).
Boult (PYE), Sargent, Walton, Harty and Thomson get it just right.