Customer Reviews

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2; The Lark Ascending

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a cd that it's very difficult to rate. As a performance it's marvelous, one of the most impressive releases from Previn , always a perfect interpreter of RVW and British music in general. The "official" Amazon review says it perfectly. The problem is the sound which is, in my opinion, well below Telarc's standard. The quality of the sound is not bad in itself, but something must have gone wrong with the engineering. The dynamics, in fact, are incredibly exaggerated: for example, if you pump up the volume at the very beginning (ok, I know that the music has to gradually rise from pianissimo, but if you don't do that you won't hear anything for several minutes! ) then the big orchestral outbursts will result unbearably loud and coarse. I' ve never been able to find a volume level good for the whole cd. I have the other, equally splendid Vaughan Williams/Previn/Telarc (the Fifth), and that has no similar problems, so it's either a bad technical act or a somewhat damaged cd that I bought. (how, though? Somebody had a different experience?) All in all , it's a real pity....

The rest of the performances on this album are great, but the real gem here is Barry Griffiths solo on The Lark Ascending. Absolutely wonderful musicianship...this is a piece that relies entirely on the ability of the violinist. A beautiful interpretation.

I cannot disagree that it's hard to find one volume level withwhich to listen to the entire recording. I first heard this piece at aconcert and one of the things that struck me about it were the drastic contrasts between peacefulness and quiet at one time and near violence the next. This recording really makes that apparent, and although it may be uncomfortable to the listener, perhaps that's the way it should be. It was, after all, written around WWI--who knows, but it just may contain World War related commentary. The second movement is incredibly beautiful. It gets loud there, too, but climactically so, and you probably won't want to turn it down. I don't really think engineering went wrong here. It's just the way the piece is. To record it with the soft parts louder and the loud parts softer would be to rob it of what it tends to evoke--surprise, dramatic contrast, beauty juxtaposed with something unsettling.

Besides Symphony No. 2, this album also contains "The Lark Ascending" of which I am an avid collector and fan. Among the versions of "The Lark Ascending," this version has a great deal of merit. Of course, it is difficult to proclaim any one of them the best because the piece lends itself to many beautiful interpretations. That said, it seems to me that "The Lark Ascending" can be performed as a lush, romantic piece where the background orchestra really captures center stage with the flourishes of the music. If that is the kind of performance you are looking for, this version is not it. However, "The Lark Ascending" can equally be performed where the violin soloist stands out very distinctly and never gets lost against the accompanying orchestra. If that is what you are looking for, this version is it. Telarc's digital recording especially helps to make the violin soloist stand out in relief, producing a delightfully crisp version V. William's "The Lark Ascending."

Others complain that the levels on this 1987 disc are too wide, and I agree. However, with a higher quality system, the somewhat primitive digital recording isn't so much of a problem. I turn this about one-quarter of the way up and that's fine to catch the very dark, low opening notes, and doesn't assault one's ears when the blasting louder portions occur. There is one point in the second movement when my speakers do seem to rattle, and not on purpose. I have British-made Meridian loudspeakers that are top quality. The performance here overall is magnificent. Some like the Griffiths version of the Lark, but I prefer a performance by Sarah Chang.

This recording of Andre Previn conductingVaughan Williams Symphony No. 2 "London" originally came out in 1987 and is in my opinion the best recording to come out. Upon listening to the "London" Symphony, Monet's London impressionistic paintings come to mind and may of been an origin to this work, or perhaps it was a counter part to Delius "Paris" Symphonic poem. Vaughan Williams had lived in London for some time and that reason alone would be the obvious influence. Vaughan Williams never made any notes on what each movement might suggest, in how London would appear to him in his music. By the suggestion of H.C Colles, this is how each movement would depict London.

1. Protrays daybreak by the river Thames, with the chimes of Big Ben striking half hourly...a very slow and meditative piece of music.

2. A cold damp foggy late November day in the Bloomsbury area, an old musician playing his fiddle outside a pub.

3. A lively Saturday night in the poor quarters of London, all the noises resembling a street fair.

4. A hunger march for those who are cold, hungry and not able to get work. The movement ends as how the first movement begins with the slow flowing waters of the Thames.

No Vaughan Williams collection would be complete without the very beautiful pastoral, romance for violin and orchestra "The Lark Ascending".

This was a gift, but it did not work. Very embrassing !!
I did Email and ask for advice but did not receive a reply