Search - Walton, Thomson, Lpo :: Symphony 1

Walton's First Symphony is one of the great "between the Wars" symphonies--Vaughan Williams's Fourth was another--that seemed to encompass a certain tension and drama that has since drained out of post-War English music. It's a great work, the first movement proceeding in one huge, unbroken span of tension, with release only coming towards the end of the finale when extra timpani and percussion crash in to drive home the music's optimistic ultimate message. The Varii Capricci started life as guitar works, believe it or not, but you'd never guess in this imaginative arrangement for orchestra. Thomson's performances are just super, as is the sound. --David Hurwitz