Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Orchestra: Hallé Orchestra
Conductor: Sir Mark Elder
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Hallé
Release: 2013
Size: 592 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Symphony No. 5 in D major
01. I. Preludio
02. II. Scherzo
03. III. Romanza
04. IV. Passacaglia
Symphony No. 8 in D minor
05. I. Fantasia (Variazioni senza tema)
06. II. Scherzo all marcia (per stromenti a fiato)
07. III. Cavatina (per stromenti ad arco)
08. IV. Toccata
Hallé returns with its second volume of works by Vaughan Williams, continuing its award winning survey of British music under its Musical Director, Sir Mark Elder.
Latest release for award winning label in the English repertoire at which it excels
The release combines two highly contrasting works to provide a disc which is both moving and uplifting.
Symphony No.5 is a generally tranquil work with music influenced by Ravel, with whom Vaughan Williams had studied, and is scored for very traditional forces
Symphony No.8 is dedicated to Sir John Barbirolli and was premièred by the Hallé in 1956. It is the shortest and least serious of the symphonies and whilst not being without moments of somber mood, is generally light hearted in tone. It is has a more exotic instrumental colour, with an enhanced percussion section.
These works have long been part of Hallé’s concert repertoire under Sir Mark Elder in performances which have drawn great critical praise:
‘I cannot think of another conductor around today better equipped to conduct this score than Sir Mark and he didn’t disappoint.’ Michael Cookson, ‘Seen and Heard International’, Review of performance of Symphony No.5, Nov 2011