Vaughan Williams: Fantasies; The Lark Ascending; Five Variants

Kenneth Heath (Performer), Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer), Neville Marriner (Conductor), Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Performer), William Bennett (Performer), Skaila Kanga (Performer), Stephen Shingles (Performer), Iona Brown (Performer), Trevor Connah (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Kenneth Heath, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, William Bennett, Skaila Kanga, Stephen Shingles, et al.
• Conductor: Neville Marriner
• Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000004CVM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,116 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #4 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( M ) > Marriner, Sir Neville
  #10 in	Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Vaughan Williams, Ralph
  #10 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( V ) > Vaughan Williams, Ralph

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Marriner's evergreen 1972 recording of favorite shorter works by Vaughan Williams has yet to be surpassed for warmth of conception and smoothness of execution. The soloists in these accounts (among them William Bennett in the Greensleeves Fantasia and Iona Brown in the Lark Ascending) are all first-rate, and the Academy's strings play with polish and great beauty of sound. The analog recording is excellent, and Marriner's remarkable empathy for the music comes across effortlessly. Some listeners may prefer the richer sonority and arrestingly mystical manner of Marriner's 1993 digital remake of the Tallis Fantasia for Philips, but this disc offers the most desirable coupling of other works and remains a first choice for those interested in getting to know the composer's finest short essays. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best versions of all the pieces.., December 29, 2004

By	ellafan (MI) - See all my reviews

This is the one I fell in love with so many years ago,and it was the first Vaughan Williams CD I purchased.I own everything of his on CD now,but this CD is my favorite.The beauty of "The Lark Ascending" is indescribable.I'll just say that it takes you away to a better,more peaceful time,and no matter how frazzled your nerves are,it will mellow you but good.The Thomas Tallis Fantasia piece is so gorgeous.Listen to the first few bars,and imagine yourself standing next to a ruined castle,the walls encumbered with ivy,the sun filtering through the ruins....That is the effect it has on me every time I listen.The Greensleeves Fantasia is another sumptuous composition,as are the Variants.I think old Ralph(Rafe) was the very best composer for strings.Second would be Delius.
If you fall in love with this CD,I would recommend that you listen to Ralph's "Sinfonia Antartica." Completely unlike anything on this CD,but astounding nevertheless.Really...everything he composed is wonderful,so start with this CD and build yourself a R.V.W. library.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential music to own, April 1, 2000

By	paul blanchard (Des Moines, Iowa) - See all my reviews

A four piece CD that packs an outstanding punch, the first work 'Theme by Thomas Tallis' has one of the top melodies ever written by any composer thus far. Very lush, sweeping, and beautifully haunting without being mawkish, a must have for a person new to Vaughan Williams work.

'Lark Ascending' shows the artistry of Vaughan Williams in displaying the interweaving of textures of violin solo's within the symphony of instruments. Again a very powerful melody blended by the interplay of the symphony and lovely violin solo by Iona Brown.

The other two works on this CD compliment the above mentioned pieces with their stunning richness of full symphonic textures of melodies and movement.

This is a CD one must have who is new or unfamiliar with Vaughan Williams work, I believe it to be one of the best works of any musician.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lark Ascending - Vaughan Williams, October 29, 2004

A Kid's Review

I have been looking for The Lark Ascending for years and years. I didn't know the name or the artist I could only identify it by sound. I can't believe I have finally found it. I am getting married one day with The Lark Ascending in the background and I will also have it played at my funneral. I love it to death. I would have paid anything to have a copy and now I do. The Lark Ascending takes my mind away to another world and gives me so much peace and joy at the same time. I cried when I finally found the name and was able to purchase a copy of The Lark Ascending. A very special CD for me. The length of The Lark Ascending is great but I could listen to it all day!! Thank you Ralph Vaughan Williams.