Customer Reviews

Vaughan Williams Pastoral Symphony; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 2

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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As with all the other Hickox-LSO recordings in their good Vaughn Williams symphony cycle, this 3rd symphony is also relatively well-recorded and well-played. For some reason though, the sound is not as good as other recordings coming from the LSO at the same time. I still prefer Previn-LSO in a more vivid, dramatic, and intense performance, recorded many years ago, but still very well-captured. The additional music on this disc is very interesting and adds to the value of the disc, but not enough to justify its purchase.

This SACD of Ralph Vaughan Williams works including the Symphony no. 3

features the premier recording of the Norfolk Rhapsody no. 2, which was

the Second of Three Rhapsodies that RVW composed intending to create a

Norfolk Symphony. Unfortunatly it never came off, and the Third Rhapsody

is lost to us. Richard Hickox and the LSO along with Soprano Rebecca

Evans deliver a very beautiful performance of the Symphony no. 3

Mr. Hickox and the LSO also bring us wonderful performances of the Norfolk

Rhapsody no. 1, and "The Running Set" The Symphony called "The Pastorale"

was RVW's way of trying to let the listener in on his thoughts and feelings concering

WWI were he served as a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps in France.

I can easily recommend this recording as well as the other ones by

Mr. Hickox and the LSO of the Symphonies, and other works of RVW on the Chandos label.

These performances are a most welcome addition to the catalog.