Customer Reviews

The British Music Collection: William Walton

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This four disc set of William Walton's most important compositions gives the listner an enjoyable overview, performed to perfection by the Bournmouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andrew Litton on all tracks except for two on Disc four. Although my primary reason for buying this boxed set was "Belshazzar's Feast", I am glad to have so many of his other works.The first three discs were recorded in the sonically satisfying Southampton(England)Guildhall.

Disc one features two works, the difficult to listen to Cello Concerto and his early 1st Symphony, which is very likable. Disc two features a concert overture, "Scapino", the pretty Violin Concerto, and his 2nd Symphony which has a more modern sound than the previous symphony.

Disc three was my least favorite disc, even though it does have an interesting assortment of pieces, including a grouping of numbers from his two "Facade Suites", the Viola Concerto, and "Variations on a Theme by Hindemith".

Disc four was my favorite. It was recorded in the glorious English Winchester Cathedral, with its more spacious resonance. It begins with the rousing "Crown Imperial" Coronation March(1937), followed by the stupendous short oratorio "Belshazzar's Feast" with the superb Welsh soloist Bryn Terfel and an augmented large orchestra. The choral forces consist of the Bournmouth Symphony Chorus and the Waynflete Singers from Winchester. The combined forces present a stirring performance. Next is Walton's Coronation "Te Deum"(1953) written for Queen Elizabeth's coronation at Westminster Abbey. This work is performed by the orchestra, the Choir of Winchester Cathedral and the Waynflete Singers under the baton of Choirmaster David Hill. It is a wonderful ten minute work. The familiar "Henry V Suite" follows, and Disc four ends with another rousing march, "Orb and Sceptre" (1953).

Considering the modest price for four discs, this is a set for every Anglophile.

This 4 CD set has some enjoyable, stirring music superbly performed, including Scapino, an overture in the form of a symphonic scherzo, the deservedly popular Crown Imperial and his moving viola concerto.

I was surprised to find that the opening music in his Facade is the theme music chosen for Michael Palin's hilarious Ripping Yarns, but disappointed at first when I realised that the Suite is entirely orchestral and does not include the Sitwell poems. But the music stands on its own very well, and I suppose I shall have to later invest in a CD which does include the quirky poetry.

Bryn Terfel does a great job as narrator in Belshazzar's Feast, which was previously the only other Walton work familiar to me.

Highly recommended.

CD BOX

Disc 1:
1. Moderato [Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra]
2. Allegro appassionato [Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra]
3. Lento [Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra]
4. Allegro assai [Symphony No.1]
5. Presto, con malizia [Symphony No.1]
6. Andante [Symphony No.1]
7. Maestoso - Brioso ed ardentemente [Symphony No.1]

Disc 2:
1. Scapino - A Comedy Overture
2. Andante tranquilo [Concerto for Violin & Orchestra]
3. Presto capriccioso alla napolitana [Concerto for Violin & Orchestra]
4. Vivace [Concerto for Violin & Orchestra]
5. Allegro molto [Symphony No.2]
6. Lento assai [Symphony No.2]
7. Passacaglia: Theme, Variations, Fugato & Coda [Symphony No.2]

Disc 3:
1. Fanfare [Façade: Suite No.2 for Orchestra]
2. Scotch Rhapsody [Façade: Suite No.2 for Orchestra]
3. Valse [Façade: Suite No.1 for Orchestra]
4. Tango-Pasodoble [Façade: Suite No.1 for Orchestra]
5. Swiss Yodelling Song [Façade: Suite No.1 for Orchestra]
6. Country Dance [Façade: Suite No.2 for Orchestra]
7. Polka [Façade: Suite No.1 for Orchestra]
8. Noche Espagnole [Façade: Suite No.2 for Orchestra]
9. Popular Song [Façade: Suite No.2 for Orchestra]
10. Old Sir Faulk [Façade: Suite No.2 for Orchestra]
11. Tarantelle Sevillana [Façade: Suite No.1 for Orchestra]
12. Andante comodo [Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (1929)]
13. Vivo con molto preciso [Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (1929)]
14. Allegro moderato [Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (1929)]
15. Tema [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
16. Variation I [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
17. Variation II [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
18. Variation III [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
19. Variation IV [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
20. Variation V [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
21. Variation VI [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
22. Variation VII [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
23. Variation VIII [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
24. Variation IX [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]
25. Finale [Variations on a theme by Hindemith]

Disc 4:
1. Crown Imperial: A Coronation March
2. Thus spake Isaiah [Belshazzar's Feast]
3. If I forget thee [Belshazzar's Feast]
4. Babylon was a great city [Belshazzar's Feast]
5. In Babylon Belshazzar the King [Belshazzar's Feast]
6. Praise ye, the God of gold [Belshazzar's Feast]
7. Thus in Babylon the mighty city [Belshazzar's Feast]
8. And in that same hour [Belshazzar's Feast]
9. Then sing aloud to God our strength [Belshazzar's Feast]
10. The trumpeters and pipers [Belshazzar's Feast]
11. 10. Then sing aloud to God our strength [Belshazzar's Feast]
12. Coronation Te Deum
13. Overture - The Globe Playhouse [Suite from "Henry V" - Concert Suite from Film Score - Arr. Muir Mathieson (Excerpts)]
14. Passacaglia - The Death of Falstaff [Suite from "Henry V" - Concert Suite from Film Score - Arr. Muir Mathieson (Excerpts)]
15. Charge and Battle of Agincourt [Suite from "Henry V" - Concert Suite from Film Score - Arr. Muir Mathieson (Excerpts)]
16. Touch her soft lips, and part; [Suite from "Henry V" - Concert Suite from Film Score - Arr. Muir Mathieson (Excerpts)]
17. Agincourt Song [Suite from "Henry V" - Concert Suite from Film Score - Arr. Muir Mathieson (Excerpts)]
18. Orb and Sceptre