Repertoire: The BEST and WORST Vaughan Williams Symphony Sets

Comments · 259

• NI

  @nigelcassidy9880 · 4 years ago

  Amazed that the world has forgotten Handley. Best V-W for me and excellent Bax cycle.

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• DM

  @dmntuba · 5 years ago

  Listening to the Boult/RVW box is like sitting down with your grandfather in front of the fireplace and listening to him tell you stories of wonder & amazement...Great Stuff 👍

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• RI

  @richardberkeley4511 · 4 months ago

  Marvellous advocacy for RVW. Thanks.

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• BR

  @bronsonbuskett4256 · 4 years ago

  Nice work- incredible to me that you can pick up a box of nine different 40min+ pieces and recall the nuances of each of their performances

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• DA

  @davidaltschuler9687 · 5 years ago

  For Boult Stereo you definitely want the Japanese 24 bit remaster box, which is sometimes available here for $40 or so. Much better sound.

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• AN

  @annakimborahpa · 4 years ago

  I share your enthusiasm at the end that there are 8 different available box sets of RVW's symphonies, which I take to be a testament to the quality of his music and its staying power beyond the first half of the 20th century when most of it was composed.

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• RO

  @ronaldmuir9126 · 9 days ago

  My wife and I attended a performance of VW ninth symphony by Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins.  A wonderful experience.

• GE

  @GeneBrown-c9q · 3 years ago (edited)

  Haitink's VW 7th is phenomenal (including the sonics), but the rest fit your description. Slatkin captures the otherworldliness of 8 & 9 like no one else. Previn finds the most menace in 4 & 6.

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• MI

  @MikeDial · 4 years ago

  I'm so happy to learn that I unintentionally bought two good versions: the Antarctic Symphony by Previn by itself and the cycle by Boult.  I say unintentionally because I know nothing about classical music except that it either enchants me or it doesn't.

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• FF

  @ffmandal · 5 years ago

  I’m a bit partial to the Hurwitz’s version of the opening of the Sea Symphony. 😏

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• 88

  @8888haydn8888 · 2 weeks ago

  A fascinating talk - thank you. I have an interest as I played on the Slatkin set and have played many times for all the conductors of these sets - and knew some of them personally quite well. You hit the nail on the head perfectly with Handley - disciplned and well-researched but lacking in character. He kept his personality well hidden during performances but not when talking. Boult was a wonderful conductor in every was - a true professional who knew exactly how to control an orchestra in every way. Thomson was a lovely man but mercurial. Slatkin is compared to many older players to Beecham (before my time) - he just lets you play like he's one of us. Very collegiate. His Haydn London set was very enjoyable too.

• AL

  @AlexMadorsky · 5 years ago

  Ralph Vaughn Williams is an incredibly underrated symphonist. &nbsp;Godzilla in the Shire #4 is my favorite, but 8, 9, 6, and 5 ain’t far behind. &nbsp;I actually have the 9th on Everest from Boult - it’s a fantastic performance but the LP is worth buying just for the somewhat surreal requiem from Sir Adrian. &nbsp;The complete Boult late cycle is the most sympathetic cycle. &nbsp;As you say, very nice colors and textures. &nbsp;Slatkin isn’t far behind and he does indeed do a great 4th and 6th. &nbsp;<br><br>I agree with you strongly on the Haitink box being highly disappointing - I love Haitink so very much, especially as a Shostakovich maestro, but I ended up pitching the box. &nbsp;For me, Previn is consistently exciting and the 3rd best choice for one-stop shopping. &nbsp;His 4th and 6th aren’t the angriest, but they’re still powerful. &nbsp;Russophiles should check out the Rozhdestvensky box which came up on a subthread above.

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