Search - Ralph Vaughan Williams, Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields :: Vaughan Williams Greatest Hits

Excellent Introduction to Ralph Vaughan Willaims

Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 01/06/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you've never heard anything by the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, this CD is the place to start. Most of Vaughan Williams' best known works (not counting his monumental symphonies) are included on this disc including the "Fantasia on Greensleeves", the "English Folk Song Suite", the "Tallis Fantasia" and "The Lark Ascending".

All of the music was performed by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-fields and was conducted with perfection by Sir Neville Marriner.

This music is full of emotion and serenity and captures the very essence of what Vaughan Williams is all about musically-speaking.

70-Minutes of music for $7.99 isn't at all bad either especially when every piece on this disc is a masterwork by a master composer.

On a personal note, the performance of "The Lark Ascending" is probably the best I've ever heard. Iona Brown's emotional violin brings out something that's missing in other recordings I've heard. I would consider the definitive "Lark" to be on this disc.

This is a highly recommended disc and it's budget price tag makes it an absolute steal."