Customer Reviews

Vaughan Williams: Oboe Concerto / English Folksongs / Suite Partita / Fantasia on Greensleeves

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
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This is probably one of my favorite CD's. Vaughan Williams is an exceptional composer, and this album takes his pieces to divine heights. The Partita is a wonderfully expansive piece, although hard to listen to at first if you're not acquainted with VW's style (personally, I don't think this one should have been first on the CD). The oboe concerto is marvelous. The orchestra is fantastic, and the oboe playing is wonderfully tasteful. The third movement is extremely poignant; I'm nearly brought to tears every time I listen to it. The Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis is incredibly lush and beautiful, and this is the best recording I've heard of one of my favorite pieces. The Greensleeves is not my favorite, but it is a highly decent rendition of the classic folksong. I've always enjoyed the Suite, and this full-orchestral version is magnificent. Overall: Superior musicianship, gorgeous musicality, an Excellent buy!

Vaughan-Williams is one of my favorite 20th century composers. I was looking for a CD that would give a good sampling of his more popular orchestral works. This CD fit the bill. The Partita and the Fantasias are V-W at his best. The performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic is enjoyable listening.

Although this disc is nla at the time of this writing, inexpensively-priced used copies are readily available and it's well worth hunting one down. Vernon Handley, a protege of Adrian Boult, and the RLPO turn in authoritative performances across the board here, but what is especially compelling are the lesser known "Partita for Double String Orchestra" and "Oboe Concerto." The Partita, completed in 1947, has always existed in the shadow of the "Tallis Fantasia" (1907), the work that put Vaughan Williams on the map; yet it is a glorous piece of music that in my view stands among the composer's greatest works. Ditto the Oboe Concerto, reflecting the more pastoral aspect of Vaughan Williams, and given a fine reading here by Jonathan Small. Handley's "Tallis Fantasia" holds its own against stiff competition from Barbirolli's famous recording for EMI (Elgar: Introduction and Allegro: Serenade; Elegy; Sospiri), and Boult's various versions also for EMI and for Lyrita, my favorite (Lyrita Classics). The "English Folk Songs Suite" and "Fantasia on Greensleeves" are beautifully played conclusions to a superb Vaughan Williams collection.

Very highly recommended!