Vaughan Williams's Veranda

[Irons]

At work but I'll try to listen later.
That concert was on Vaughan Williams's 105th birthday.
Boult's objective approach really suits Sinfonia Antartica - his Decca recording with VW in attendance is possibly my favourite version. The later (EMI) recording is very strong although it doesn't have quite the same urgency.

I wonder what other people's favourite recording of Sinfonia Antartica is.

I run a mile from spoken introductions which sadly rules out very good and likely best recordings of Sinfonia Antartica. I agree the Boult EMI is good (how can it not be). The one recording, although mono, that hits the spot which I actually felt shivers listening, no exaggeration, is Barbirolli.

[aukhawk]

I'm lucky in that the spoken bits don't bother me at all - although some of the more pompous deliveries can be a bit farcical I agree.  I'm much more fussy when it comes to the organ contribution and specifically the way it is balanced against the orchestra.  Thus I would really like to put Bryden Thomson at the top of my list but unfortunately he is ruled out because of some unfortunate choices made around the organ.  (It is small-scale and distant, like some unattainable mirage in the snowscape.)  My favourite is Andrew Manze, a good modern recording and ideal organ contribution.

That live Boult recording (I'm playing it as I type this) sounds pretty good - on my laptop, I must tranfer a copy to my main rig.  It's unusual of course to hear the organ (presumably) live, not dubbed as in almost all non-live recordings.  The balance sounds better than Haitink's live recording in the same venue, where the same  organ sounds monstrous.

Ah - great wind machine work at the end, finally sinking down to leave the choir diminuendo to finish us off.  Nicely done.

Blimey - according to the back-anno they went on to perform the Sea Symphony after the interval!  What a marathon. (Different conductor though.)

[relm1]

I'm lucky in that the spoken bits don't bother me at all - although some of the more pompous deliveries can be a bit farcical I agree.  I'm much more fussy when it comes to the organ contribution and specifically the way it is balanced against the orchestra.  Thus I would really like to put Bryden Thomson at the top of my list but unfortunately he is ruled out because of some unfortunate choices made around the organ.  (It is small-scale and distant, like some unattainable mirage in the snowscape.)  My favourite is Andrew Manze, a good modern recording and ideal organ contribution.

That live Boult recording (I'm playing it as I type this) sounds pretty good - on my laptop, I must tranfer a copy to my main rig.  It's unusual of course to hear the organ (presumably) live, not dubbed as in almost all non-live recordings.  The balance sounds better than Haitink's live recording in the same venue, where the same  organ sounds monstrous.

Ah - great wind machine work at the end, finally sinking down to leave the choir diminuendo to finish us off.  Nicely done.

Blimey - according to the back-anno they went on to perform the Sea Symphony after the interval!  What a marathon. (Different conductor though.)

Wow, that's crazy stamina considering this was Boult's last concert!  I guess one of the advantages he had of always looking the same age is he never aged.

[Abdel Ove Allhan]

I really liked this.  Moody and atmospheric.  What do others think? 

I was there. Me and 2 mates were tramping through the British Isles and while in London we attended this performance. I had no Idea it was his last. As I recall it was a very warm day and RVW's chilly landscape was a delicious if ominous respite. Thank you for posting a slice of my youth.

[Mountain Goat]

Blimey - according to the back-anno they went on to perform the Sea Symphony after the interval!  What a marathon.

Wow! That must have been quite a night. One of the most memorable concerts I ever attended was Andrew Manze and the BBC Scottish SO in symphonies 4, 5 & 6 at the 2012 Proms.

[relm1]

I was there. Me and 2 mates were tramping through the British Isles and while in London we attended this performance. I had no Idea it was his last. As I recall it was a very warm day and RVW's chilly landscape was a delicious if ominous respite. Thank you for posting a slice of my youth.

That's amazing!  By the way, where in CA are you?  PM me if too personal.  I'm CA too.

[foxandpeng]

Wow! That must have been quite a night. One of the most memorable concerts I ever attended was Andrew Manze and the BBC Scottish SO in symphonies 4, 5 & 6 at the 2012 Proms.

Here we are again . I am a fan of Manze in RVW, but am a bit of a lone wolf in that regard, I think...

[Roasted Swan]

Here we are again . I am a fan of Manze in RVW, but am a bit of a lone wolf in that regard, I think...

I saw Manze do No.9 at the RFH last Autumn.  Very good indeed - concert included a DREADFUL "Lark" but that was down to the soloist not Manze!

[vandermolen]

Here we are again . I am a fan of Manze in RVW, but am a bit of a lone wolf in that regard, I think...

Have just pre-ordered Job and Old King Cole. I liked 7 and 9 but not the others.

[Luke]

I saw Manze do No.9 at the RFH last Autumn.  Very good indeed - concert included a DREADFUL "Lark" but that was down to the soloist not Manze!

Avian flu?

[Roasted Swan]

Avian flu?

mannered and interventionist.  The "don't look at me I'm shy" school of violin playing.  Just awful......

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Avian flu?

Booo! 

PD

[Roasted Swan]

Should "The Lark Ascending" be used as the theme song for the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association......

[Abdel Ove Allhan]

That's amazing!  By the way, where in CA are you?  PM me if too personal.  I'm CA too.

I reside in the confines of Orange in the Old Town district.

[LKB]

That's amazing!  By the way, where in CA are you?  PM me if too personal.  I'm CA too.

As am l. I will be on vacation soon, and while l wasn't planning on traveling I'm happy to do so for some quality discussions of RVW, if anyone is interested. 

[calyptorhynchus]

Memory from 35 years ago. In a record shop I saw a recording of the Tallis Fantasia (coupled with works by other composers) conducted by Herbert von Karajan!

Even at the time, when I knew little about music and conductors, I thought this was a bizarre recording. Does anyone remember this one? Was it any good? Did Karajan record any other VW?

[Lisztianwagner]

Memory from 35 years ago. In a record shop I saw a recording of the Tallis Fantasia (coupled with works by other composers) conducted by Herbert von Karajan!

Even at the time, when I knew little about music and conductors, I thought this was a bizarre recording. Does anyone remember this one? Was it any good? Did Karajan record any other VW?

I have a recording of Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia by Karajan/Philharmonia, it is matched with Britten's Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge; I was quite surprised when I discovered Karajan had conducted those composers, since he rarely ventured into English music; as a matter of fact, I don't think he recorded any other RVW, but it would have been thrilling. Provably I would be the minority, but I've always found that a beautifully poetical recording, suggestive and lyrical.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I have a recording of Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia by Karajan/Philharmonia, it is matched with Britten's Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge; I was quite surprised when I discovered Karajan had conducted those composers, since he rarely ventured into English music; as a matter of fact, I don't think he recorded any other RVW, but it would have been thrilling. Provably I would be the minority, but I've always found that a beautifully poetical recording, suggestive and lyrical.

I see some mono pressings here:  https://www.discogs.com/master/999868-Benjamin-Britten-Vaughan-Williams-Herbert-von-Karajan-Philharmonia-Orchestra-Variations-On-A-Theme-O  Does one of them look familiar?

PD

[Lisztianwagner]

I see some mono pressings here:  https://www.discogs.com/master/999868-Benjamin-Britten-Vaughan-Williams-Herbert-von-Karajan-Philharmonia-Orchestra-Variations-On-A-Theme-O  Does one of them look familiar?

PD

Yes, that's the recording I was referring to; mine is the remastered version.

[Irons]

I have a recording of Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia by Karajan/Philharmonia, it is matched with Britten's Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge; I was quite surprised when I discovered Karajan had conducted those composers, since he rarely ventured into English music; as a matter of fact, I don't think he recorded any other RVW, but it would have been thrilling. Provably I would be the minority, but I've always found that a beautifully poetical recording, suggestive and lyrical.

Karajan obviously liked to perform Fantasia.

 http://www.karajan.co.uk/britishcomposers.html

I would love to hear his Walton 1st Symphony, all be it a radio recording.