Editorial Reviews

No one but the most dedicated of Vaughan Williams devotees should try this Dutton disc featuring recordings from the composer's personal record collection called "From Vaughan Williams Attic." The problem is the sound. Of the six selections here, two were recorded in 1925, one in 1937, one in 1938, one in 1945, and the most recent in 1948. Though Michael Dutton has done an outstanding job of transferring every recording, much of the sound here will be far too antediluvian for most tastes with noise running a close second to signal in the earliest recordings.

But the most dedicated of Vaughan Williams devotees will positively have to try this disc. The two earliest selections -- "The Wasps" overture and the "Old King Cole" ballet music -- are conducted by the composer himself who elicits sprightly and sparkling performances from the Aeolian Orchestra. While these recordings alone would be enough for most devotees of Vaughan Williams, the remaining four performances are nearly as classic. Thomas Beecham leads the London Philharmonic Chorus & Orchestra in "A Flourish for the Coronation," a rousing occasional piece for the crowning of George VI, while Adrian Boult leads the BBC Symphony Chorus & Orchestra in "Thanksgiving for Victory," a stirring occasional piece marking the allies' victory in Europe. In between, Henry Wood leads the BBC Symphony and 16 hand-picked singers in the composer's "Serenade to Music," his glorious setting of a portion of The Merchant of Venice written for the conductor's Jubilee Concert. Though this performance is not that performance, it was recoded shortly afterwards in EMI's Abbey Road studios, and it is extraordinarily magical. And last but not least, Ernest Irving leads the Philharmonia Orchestra in excerpts from the composer's music for the film Scott of the Antarctic in bone-chilling performances that make full use of the wind machine.

Many of these performances have been previously reissued on CD, but none have been as cleanly and faithfully remastered as these. If you consider yourself a dedicated Vaughan Williams devotee, this is the disc for you. James Leonard, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

• Listener Rating: