Vaughan Williams: Symphonies #1-9, The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, In the Fen Country - Haitink, Bostridge, Chang (7 CD's) [Box set]

Felicity Lott (Artist), Jonathan Summers (Artist), Amanda Roocroft (Artist), Shauss (Artist), Charles-Marie Widor (Artist), Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer), Bernard Haitink (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Bernard Haitink
• Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Audio CD (November 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 7
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B0002RUAFQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,701 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #27 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Vaughan Williams, Ralph
  • #79 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Symphonies > Modern & 20th Century
  • #85 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Vocal & Song

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Customer Reviews

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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vaughan Williams the Great European Symphonist, December 15, 2004

By 

Bernard Davis "Bernard Davis" (Birmingham, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vaughan Williams: Symphonies #1-9, The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, In the Fen Country - Haitink, Bostridge, Chang (7 CD's) (Audio CD)

2004 Has been a good year for Box Sets of Vaughan Williams Symphonies. Best of the bunch is this one from EMI with Bernard Haitink conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Do not be put off by the lengthy gestation of the project, over 16 years between 1984 and 2000, there is a consistency of interpretation, performance and sound.

Haitink's first recording in the set of the 7th Symphony, the Sinfonia Antarctica is his manifesto. He takes Vaughan Williams out of the cosy world of 20th century British music and the interpretive shadow cast by Adrian Boult and places him in an ongoing tradition of European symphonists. Haitink revels in the richness of the symphony's sound worlds and in the romantic heart which he finds in them all. These are rich, big boned interpretations. Nowhere more so than in this 7th Symphony, from the episodic feast of the first movement onwards, and there is surely no recording with a more appropriate acoustic.

The First in the cycle , `A Sea Symphony" is startling, as conductor, orchestra and singers burn a new way to the heart of this huge work with a searingly intense first movement.

The Second, A London Symphony has many fine recordings. Here the louder passages are brash, boisterous and thoroughly urban. Vaughan Williams loved city life and would surely have approved.

The Third, A Pastoral Symphony is one of the most striking reinterpretations here, and perhaps the hardest to take for traditionalists. Boult's mystical manipulation of blocks of chords with solo instruments floating above them is replaced with lyrical argument.

The furies at the heart of the Fourth Symphony are set free to great effect, as they are in the Sixth Symphony. Haitink excels in the demonic dance music in both symphonies and the jazz elements in the Sixth are enthusiastically articulated

If the interpretation of the Pastoral Symphony is striking, that of the 8th is a complete transformation, and one that convinces. No longer is this a small symphony, here it is the considerable utterance of a master.

The Fifth symphony is its radiant self, but the questions that also inhabit the score are welcomed, giving this performance light and shade.

The Ninth Symphony, sometimes considered a difficult work sounds like a natural summation of Vaughan Williams musical journey. It is a suitable epitaph, autumnal but radiating vigour.

There are a number of filler works here, like the Symphonies some are radical reinterpretations. I am not convinced by this Variations on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. In The Lark Ascending the programme is forgotten and it becomes a one movement concerto with a continuous violin line.

Haitink's interpretations are not for everyone. If you want modern a modern equivalent of Boult with good digital sound choose the Vernon Handley Set on Classics For Pleasure. That also has the benefit of a more generous selection of extra works. If you want to hear exciting modern performances in exemplary sound snap up this bargain box.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Vaughan Williams Cycle To Consider, August 30, 2009

By 

J. Rich - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Vaughan Williams: Symphonies #1-9, The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, In the Fen Country - Haitink, Bostridge, Chang (7 CD's) (Audio CD)

Bernard Haitink, of Royal Concertgebouw fame, isn't often considered a conductor of English music. In fact, some may consider this very set of Vaughan Williams symphonies taboo just for being what it is: a Dutchman conducting an English composer with an English orchestra. What we have here are some very fine interpretations in beautiful stereo sound. The London Philharmonic also all turn in great performances despite some of the artistic choices from Haitink.

Particularly impressive are Haitink's readings of "Symphony No. 5," "A Pastoral Symphony," "Symphony No. 4," and "A London Symphony." I'm not particularly impressed with his other interpretations. "A Sea Symphony" falls flat on it's back when compared to Boult's or Thomson's readings, which stylistically both of these conductor's interpretations couldn't be more different from each other, but both work exceptionally well. Boult's was more ethereal and atmospheric whereas Thomson's was more clean cut and direct. Haitink also fails to capture the beauty of "A Lark Ascending," which Sarah Chang plays well, but doesn't get to the bottom of the piece too well. Haitink's almost non-existent accompanying is subpar at best.

Of the other orchestral works, I was particularly impressed with "Northfolk Rhapsody No. 1," which picked up great momentum and was well-paced throughout. "In The Fen Country" also receives a great reading, which captures the beautiful English countryside quite nicely.

If you're looking for some different interpretations of RVW's symphonies and want to hear a great set with fantastic sonics, then look no further than Haitink's, but be aware, this set hardly tops Boult, Thomson, or Handley, but it offers a good alternative that contains some very masterful performances.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VW Can't miss, March 31, 2007

By 

Philip A. Thomas "long listener" (Saskatoon SK Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Vaughan Williams: Symphonies #1-9, The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, In the Fen Country - Haitink, Bostridge, Chang (7 CD's) (Audio CD)

It would take a lot of effort to make these works anything but wonderful to my ( untrained) ear. I have other versions of Symphonies 3 & 5, Tallis, and Lark, but am not that familiar with the rest. I bought the CD set just to hear them. VW's music goes straight to my soul, perhaps because I was born about 40 km ( 25 miles ) from the composer. These works evoke instant nostalgia. Haintink, the orchestra , soloists, sound fine. I particularly enjoyed Ian Bostridge.