Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony

Brett Polegato (Artist), Christine Goerke (Artist), Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer), Robert Spano (Conductor), Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
• Conductor: Robert Spano
• Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Audio CD (July 23, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B00006AAV7
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,183 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. A Song For All Seas, All Ships

2. On The Beach At Night, Alone

3. Scherzo: The Waves

4. The Explorers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ASO chorus returns in fine form, August 7, 2002

By 

Samer T Ismail "SF & classical music fan" (Danbury, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Audio CD)

This CD marks the first new recording by the ASO Chorus since the death of their founder, Robert Shaw, in 1999, and this CD shows their skills are as polished as ever. That this CD marks one of the few recordings of this work by an American chorus makes it all the more remarkable.

A Sea Symphony, Vaughan Williams's first, is by no means an immature work (at its 1910 première, VW was nearly 40): the orchestra is on par with many of Mahler's works (an organ is recommended, though not required), and the chorus is given a much more prominent role than in most "choral symphonies" that predated it (there is only one extended section for the soloists without the chorus, at "O we can wait no longer" in the finale).

Much as they did on their Grammy-winning recording of Vaughan Williams's ~Dona nobis pacem~, the ASO and ASO Chorus play with consummate skill and beauty. The recording is splendid: the climaxes are breathtaking, and the pianissimos perfectly clear.
In particular, though, Christine Goerke's performance in what may be the most difficult solo Vaughan Williams wrote (the first movement has her sinking to the A below middle C!) is absolutely radiant, and should not be missed.

I can only hope that the ASO will get around to recording VW's third large-scale choral work, "Sancta civitas;" they won 3 Grammys for "Dona nobis pacem," and I expect this CD will earn nominations as well; this ranks with Boult's 1960s recording of A Sea Symphony and Hickox's recording of "Sancta civitas" and "Dona nobis pacem" as one of the best VW recordings ever.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As large and powerful as the sea itself, April 6, 2003

By 

Daniel Graser "saxgod685" (Wappingers Falls, New York United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Audio CD)

There have been a number of beautiful recordings of Vaughn Williams', A Sea Symphony. However, none of them are nearly as powerful and bold as this splendid, grammy winning album. Robert Spano decides on some very quick tempi and they work very well especially in the scherzo movement where the waves crash like thunder. Goerke and Polegato, wile not that well known are very talented and moving soloists and blend quite well together while still being able to project over the orchestra. The engineering on this recording is absolutely perfect and delivers the Atlanta Symphony's masterful performance in wonderful sound. This is a wonderful recording that should not be mised by an music lover.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music lover-Portland Oregon, August 12, 2002

By 

Michael Geheb "masterlistener" (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful recording. The Atlanta Symphony continues to perform splendidly---even after the death of Robert Shaw, who lead this orchestra and especially this chorus to genuine greatness. This is a lyrical captivating reading that ebbs and flows with Whitman's poetry. Robert Spano gives gives a truly fluid reading. For this listener, who is not a great Vaughan Williams fan, I remained interested for the entire work. It wears well with repeated hearings. Christine Goerke continues her stunning work with Atlanta and for Telarc. She has emerged as one of the truly unique, captivating sopranos on the world stage. The unique timbre and beauty of this voice combined with an iron-clad technique continue to amaze. Baritone Brett Polegatto is well matched to this work. His baritone has a lightness---in the best sense, and an almost tenor timbre. His is an elegant reading. Although his voice is not of the same weight and size of Goerke's, they sing artistically together and are well matched in this work. This is another great recording from Telarc. I listened to the SACD recording----and the sound is spacious and full---never harsh. Its a keeper!