Search - Vaughan Williams, Previn, Lso :: Symphonies 6 & 9

Dark, Prophetic Music

Eric Brinkmann | Palo Alto, CA United States | 08/21/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Vaughan Williams has the unfortunate reputation of writing nice, mellifluous pastoral music. This CD powerfully refutes that myth. The 6th, written in response to WWII is a dark and pessimistic work, the last movement never rising above a ghostly, apocalyptic pianissimo. The 9th is his last major work, an oddly quirky and sometimes wryly humorous piece, making a nice coupling with the 6th. The LSO and Previn are in fine form, though I do wish they would give a little more blood when Vaughan Williams demands it, particularly in the 6th."