Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony

Christine Goerke (Artist), Brett Polegato (Artist), Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer), Robert Spano (Conductor), Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and 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: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,460 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #10 in

  Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( A ) > Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Track Listings

1. A Song For All Seas, All Ships

2. On The Beach At Night, Alone

3. Scherzo: The Waves

4. The Explorers

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This beautifully recorded, no-nonsense, not overly sentimental, quick-tempo account of Vaughan Williams's lush choral symphony is most welcome. It's a work that matches the mystical--Walt Whitman's poetry--with some folklike sea rhythms Vaughan Williams tosses into the mix. Though it's perhaps not as warm as some versions, conductor Robert Spano opts for lots of excitement in the grand moments ("Sail forth" in the last movement, for instance). The warmth is written into the music anyway and is present no matter what. The second movement's stillness is as impressive as the "perfect storm" sections. The playing of the Atlanta Symphony is big and beautiful, and soprano Christine Goerke sings brightly and with ease. Her voice is just the right weight to ride the climaxes and sound intimate in the gentler moments. This is highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 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 (REAL NAME)

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.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost, but not quite., September 17, 2003

By	P. SIMPSON "nucaleena" (North Yorkshire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'll nail my colours to the mast by stating that the Sea symphony is my least favourite of Vaugham Williams nine, but I bought this (rather than wait until the Hickox came out) because wanted to see who got closest, the American reviewers who praised it to the skies (especially for sonics) or good old anglo-centric, anglo-philiac Gramophone (who gently disparaged it). Needless to say, my reaction comes about half way between the two.

The sonics have been widely praised and won a Grammy. I can understand the praise and the win, - the recording copes with every crashing wave and orchestral climax, and this is a performance which keeps 'em coming. It captures voices beautifully and for most of the time choir and orchestra are clearly and naturally presented. My only real complaint is that, especially in the first movement, I felt that the soundstage wasn't integrated, - it was as if two different orchestras and choirs were playing almost, but not quite simultaneously, left and right. Maybe my ears accommodated, because it didnt bother me after that. A more minor complaint is my usual one that there is more to most music than a contrast between loud and soft (not that the performance would indicate that) and there is less mid-range warmth than I'd like. Like the performance, the sound is a bit monochromatic.

You'll have gathered by now that I'm not rapt in the performance, though it has many good individual features. The Choir is truly excellent and the Atlanta SO yet again, virtuosic. Baritone Brett Polegato is a little light on but is warm- rather than acid- toned, as some light baritones can be. He also sings tunefully, instead of with that strangulated anal-hernia, plum-mouthed voice that english male singers tend to put on for english music.

The principal problems are with soprano Christine Goerke and Spano's overall guidance. Ms Goerke is one of that breed of soprano who would have been better born a mezzo, - she warbles uncomfortably at times and ends up hooting and braying. When she's caught in the middle-register, which, to be fair to her, is most of the time, she's very good, but when she strays outside it, her shortcomings are exposed. There is just no compariosn between her and (my own favourite in this piece) Felicity Lott (for Hairink) or Joan Rodgers (for Handley). Lott, in particular, captures the sensuality of the writing, in a way which neither Spano nor Ms. Goerke begin to realise.

And that's my main problem with Spano's direction. Yes, it is meant to be fast and furious and it certainly generates the "Wow" factor. And yes, let's face it, the symphony can be pretty boring. Spano shaves some 10 minutes off Haitink, and there are some gains in this approach in terms of excitement. The problem is, that's all you get. Like the recording's fixation on loud and soft, Mr Spano's is on fast and slow. Again, there's nothing in the middle, nor at the fringes. No subtlety, no sensuality (and surely Whitman's words call for them). This sea is all storm and movement, no sunshine or shallows. That's where Haitink is so good, at maintaining intellectual control over this sprawling canvass whilst recognising colour and variation, features which Mr Spano doesn't even attempt to find. And Handley too finds more warmth in the sea than Spano, - there's a gulf stream in his performance, whereas it's clear Spano hasn't even been to the beach in Georgia.

I guess I'm going to have to eventually get the Hickox after all, hoping that he steers a middle course, with some of Spano's drive and some of Haitink's restraint. But I will still play the Spano until then, whenever i need sails unfurled and Nelson at the helm.

14 of 15 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 (REAL NAME)

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.