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Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9; Flourish for Glorious John
Vaughan Williams, Slatkin, Philharmonia Orch
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9; Flourish for Glorious John
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (9) - Disc #1

Vaughan Williams's Eight and Ninth Symphonies carry on the composer's enchantment with unusual instruments that first appeared in the Seventh Symphony, the famous Sinfonia Antartica. In the Eighth, there's a terrific "b...  more »

     
   

CD Details

All Artists: Vaughan Williams, Slatkin, Philharmonia Orch
Title: Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9; Flourish for Glorious John
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: RCA
Release Date: 6/8/1993
Genre: Classical
Styles: Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 090266119622

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Vaughan Williams's Eight and Ninth Symphonies carry on the composer's enchantment with unusual instruments that first appeared in the Seventh Symphony, the famous Sinfonia Antartica. In the Eighth, there's a terrific "bell" finale with its three tuned gongs and "all the phones and spiels known to the composer," as well as inner movements written exclusively for winds and strings. The Ninth has its share of exotic percussion too, but also a flugelhorn and a trio of saxophones. It's all great listening, and it has never been better performed and recorded than in these two outstanding performances. --David Hurwitz

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CD Reviews

Great performances of great music
Paul C. Lewis | U.K. | 12/10/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording, unbelievably deleted at present from the catalogue, is a testament to the greatness of RVW as a symphonic composer - in my opinion nos. 5, 8 and 9 are his best and Leonard Slatkin with the Philharmonia orchestra give performances of the last two which I seriously doubt could be surpassed.

With orchestra managers always complaining about the difficulties of expanding repetoire without driving audiences away, I am always amazed how little exposure these wonderful works receive on the international stage - comparable to anything written by more "famous" names!

If you can still get a copy, highly recommended."
Deep
David Saemann | 11/08/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Vaughan Williams wrote these symphonies in his Eighties, but there is no slackening of his creative vitality. The disc begins with the Flourish for Glorious John, a delightful little morsel, in tribute to his friend and champion Sir John Barbirolli. Indeed, Barbirolli gave the premiere and made the first recording of the Eighth Symphony. At least I think it was the first recording; Sir Adrian Boult recorded it almost contemporaneously for Decca. It is a wonderful symphony, filled, as Vaughan Williams said, with all the phones and spiels known to the composer. Slatkin is fully in tune with the spirit of the piece, drawing marvelous character sketches in the middle movements and letting loose in the Finale with no loss of clarity. The Ninth has always been the most enigmatic of Vaughan Williams's symphonies. Slatkin has the measure of the orchestration, with its spooky saxophones. Although the score is episodic, particularly in the last movement, Slatkin's tempos are well judged and the piece holds together wonderfully. Throughout, the Philharmonia play with great refinement, and the sound engineering is excellent. These are among my preferred performances for both symphonies."