Hi all,
I am looking into getting this cycle of RVW's symphonies and was wondering if there are any opinions on it. Previn's seems to be more widely acclaimed but it's out of print, and Slatkin seems like a consistent enough conductor that it should be good. Thoughts? Opinions?
Thanks.
Leonard Slatkin's Vaughan Williams cycle
Started by GWU08, May 23 2012 09:42 AM
11 replies to this topic
#1
GWU08
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 09:42 AM
"You sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? Now there's a frood who really knows where his towel is."
#2
TheTennisBallKid
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 11:24 AM
I have this set and like it a great deal. For the most part though, these are the only versions of this music that I've heard, so I can't really offer a comparsion to other conductor's interpetations.
It made a Vaughan Williams fan out of me, though. I don't think there is a disc in this set that I don't enjoy.
It made a Vaughan Williams fan out of me, though. I don't think there is a disc in this set that I don't enjoy.
#3
Joe Brausam
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 12:35 PM
I'd get a Boult cycle, personally.
#4
Romão
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 02:29 PM
Bernard Haitink's cycle is pretty great and quite cheap. But the problem is with these cycles is that you never get the best versions of all the symphonies
The Keyboard is mightier than the sword
#5
Marian Schedenig
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 06:34 PM
We just had that exact same question elsewhere a while ago.
Anyway, this is the cycle I have. Not one of great classics like Boult and Haitink, but it generally got very favourable reviews as a full cycle, and I like it a lot. Plus it has one of the best versions of the Tallis fantasia.
Don't forget to also get the Hickox recording of the London Symphony, for the original (longer) version and the LSO's fantastic performance.
Anyway, this is the cycle I have. Not one of great classics like Boult and Haitink, but it generally got very favourable reviews as a full cycle, and I like it a lot. Plus it has one of the best versions of the Tallis fantasia.
Don't forget to also get the Hickox recording of the London Symphony, for the original (longer) version and the LSO's fantastic performance.
#6
Romão
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 06:37 PM
Indeed, Marion, that extended version of the London Symphony is incredible and that one will probably be the only recorded performance for quite some years.
The Keyboard is mightier than the sword
#7
Richard
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Posted 24 May 2012 - 10:27 AM
The recently deceased Vernon Handley seemed to understand VW's music than most. I recommend his complete symphonies recordings with the Royal Liverpool Philamonic Orchestra. His interpretation of "London" is surperb.
#8
Miguel Andrade
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Posted 24 May 2012 - 12:21 PM
Haitink is really great. I have the full cycle and while may not be the first choice in every single symphony, they all boost great performances.
Miguel Andrade
[url="http://johnwilliams.jw-music.net/index.html"]http://johnwilliams.jw-music.net/index.html[/url]
e-mail: miguel.jw@gmail.com
----------------------
"I owe a tremendous debt of gratitute do John Williams. Without his music, Superman's powers are greatly deminished. Believe me, if you try to fly without that theme, you go nowhere... one step, two steps and... down!" -- Christopher Reeve, May 1993
"John Williams will go down as one of the greatest composers." -- Leonard Slatkin, american conductor
"Ah yes, the Olympics. The quadrennial event where composer John Williams collects a hefty royalty check from NBC."
"Music is not a luxury but a necessity" - Robert Shaw
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." -- Albert Einstein
[url="http://johnwilliams.jw-music.net/index.html"]http://johnwilliams.jw-music.net/index.html[/url]
e-mail: miguel.jw@gmail.com
----------------------
"I owe a tremendous debt of gratitute do John Williams. Without his music, Superman's powers are greatly deminished. Believe me, if you try to fly without that theme, you go nowhere... one step, two steps and... down!" -- Christopher Reeve, May 1993
"John Williams will go down as one of the greatest composers." -- Leonard Slatkin, american conductor
"Ah yes, the Olympics. The quadrennial event where composer John Williams collects a hefty royalty check from NBC."
"Music is not a luxury but a necessity" - Robert Shaw
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." -- Albert Einstein
#9
Maurizio
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Posted 24 May 2012 - 12:26 PM
The recently deceased Vernon Handley seemed to understand VW's music than most. I recommend his complete symphonies recordings with the Royal Liverpool Philamonic Orchestra. His interpretation of "London" is surperb.
I too have the Vernon Handley boxset (you can find it at bargain price on Amazon) and it's a wonderful collection, featuring some great performances. Of course, you should check the Haitink/LPO cycle if you want to have the best of both worlds.
"It's still baffling to me. I sit down with a pencil and a piece of paper and do my best... The remarkable thing is that my music is heard by billions of people." --John Williams
"Let me say, however, there is no "next" John Williams. Sadly, he is unique--- a figure who simultaneously embodies and transcends the music of all the masters of film music who preceded him (much like Brahms and Wagner of the Romantic era). He comes from a time when the craft of music in film was still one of the ear, heart and mind. Today, sadly, the craft is largely technical. Most composers do not conceive their music "inwardly" but rather at the computer--- and with rather limited skills, musically, at that. The inner spirit knows no boundaries--- our plastic abilities, sadly, do. John is a man of spirit, heart, intellect and soaring music." -- Conrad Pope about John Williams
"Let me say, however, there is no "next" John Williams. Sadly, he is unique--- a figure who simultaneously embodies and transcends the music of all the masters of film music who preceded him (much like Brahms and Wagner of the Romantic era). He comes from a time when the craft of music in film was still one of the ear, heart and mind. Today, sadly, the craft is largely technical. Most composers do not conceive their music "inwardly" but rather at the computer--- and with rather limited skills, musically, at that. The inner spirit knows no boundaries--- our plastic abilities, sadly, do. John is a man of spirit, heart, intellect and soaring music." -- Conrad Pope about John Williams
#10
GWU08
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 02:00 AM
Thanks for all the advice! After reading further, I think I've opted to go with a hodge-podge--a couple by Previn, some from the Naxos cycle with the Bournemouth Symphony and Robert Spano's Sea Symphony.
I've known about this for a while; what kind of material did he cut in the revision?
Don't forget to also get the Hickox recording of the London Symphony, for the original (longer) version and the LSO's fantastic performance.
I've known about this for a while; what kind of material did he cut in the revision?
"You sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? Now there's a frood who really knows where his towel is."
#11
Marian Schedenig
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 07:36 AM
I've known about this for a while; what kind of material did he cut in the revision?
I don't recall really. I'm not that familiar with the symphony in detail, and I rarely listen to the revised version now. In fact some years ago I was sure that the passage De Meij lifted for his LOTR symphony was among the restored material, but then I listened to the revision again and there it was, too.
#12
karelm
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Posted 28 May 2012 - 02:49 AM
There isn't a perfect cycle. Here is my choice on the individuals:
No. 1: Haitink
No. 2: Hickox/Chandos (original version)
No. 3: Boult
No. 4: Boult
No. 5: Previn/LSO
No. 6: Boult
No. 7: Previn/LSO and Boult (for the Landscape movement) (the naxos/Bakels is good too)
No. 8: Boult
No. 9: Previn/LSO
Haitink is very uneven. Sounds great in some of them and terrible in some of them. No. 8 and 9 is nothing like the score so either the engineering is way off or he took too many liberties.
If you really wanted just one version, Boult (either one) is the one to get. Best all around interpretation, authenticity, and sound. Note the earlier Boult recordings are better interpretations but in mono which might be an issue for most people. The later ones are not as white hot, but still great and have better sound.
No. 1: Haitink
No. 2: Hickox/Chandos (original version)
No. 3: Boult
No. 4: Boult
No. 5: Previn/LSO
No. 6: Boult
No. 7: Previn/LSO and Boult (for the Landscape movement) (the naxos/Bakels is good too)
No. 8: Boult
No. 9: Previn/LSO
Haitink is very uneven. Sounds great in some of them and terrible in some of them. No. 8 and 9 is nothing like the score so either the engineering is way off or he took too many liberties.
If you really wanted just one version, Boult (either one) is the one to get. Best all around interpretation, authenticity, and sound. Note the earlier Boult recordings are better interpretations but in mono which might be an issue for most people. The later ones are not as white hot, but still great and have better sound.
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