Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works

Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer), Adrian Boult (Conductor), Barry Wordsworth (Conductor), Neville Marriner (Conductor), Tommy Reilly (Performer), Celia Nicklin (Performer), Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Orchestra), London Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), New Queen's Hall Orchestra (Orchestra), Iona Brown (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Tommy Reilly, Celia Nicklin, Iona Brown
• Orchestra: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London Philharmonic Orchestra, New Queen's Hall Orchestra
• Conductor: Adrian Boult, Barry Wordsworth, Neville Marriner
• Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Audio CD (May 11, 1999)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00000IX81
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #25,074 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful introduction!, June 3, 2001

By	J. Rabideau (Stuck in the Loser State) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This two-disc set is a wonderful, reasonably-priced introduction to British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams orchestral works. His broad range of composition is amply represented here, the quality of tonal reproduction is outstanding, and the calibre of performance is high. Particularly appealing to me is the English Folk Song Suite, this performance conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, played by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields...wonderful material all, largely also new to me...a felicitous discovery; do highly recommend.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasia on England, November 29, 2001

By	Todd Montgomery (Wilmore, KY USA) - See all my reviews

Every now and then I listen to a cd that changes my life. I went absolutely crazy over this one and started getting many other Vaughan Williams cds. The Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis is an absolutely unforgettable piece, and rightfully one of the composer's most famous works, but there is not a moment of inferior or inaccesible sound in this collection.

From this cd one can understand Vaughan Williams's reputation for writing pastorally beautiful music-in the lark ascending and dives and lazarus particularly, but one also gets a taste of the more intense works he produced, such as the concerto grosso and the partita for double string orchestra. They certainly don't approach the harshness of his 4th and 6th symphonies, but this cd is a wonderful overview of his smaller orchestral works.

everyone will recognize the melody to greensleeves, and the english folk song suite is just plain fun. This cd is the most often played in my collection of classical music, but whatever you do, do yourself a favor and give the Tallis Fantasia a listen. As the inside notes put it, it sounds like "a cathedral made audible"

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced & Refined English Folk Song Adaptations, February 3, 2005

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

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Vaughan Williams is certainly one of the consummate English composers who took the folk song of his country and compsed delightful orchestra works around them.

This budget worthy 2-CD set displays this in two parts, the first performed by the Acadamey of St.Martin in-the-Fields while the second disc features more period instruments with the New Queen's Hall Orchestra and the London Philharmonic.

Celia Nicklin is superb with the Oboe Concerto nusancing this pastoral yet lively offering. Iona Brown likewise contributes a fine solo violin performance with "The Lark Ascending"

The strings also provide a strong offering on the "Tallis Fantasia", one of his strongest compositions on this selection.

Excellent example of this prominent English composer's love with folk song interpretation, in this recording done passionately and naturally.