Vaughan Williams: The Complete Symphoniesby Anonymous

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January 02, 2001: What is a definitive recording? Is such a thing even desirable? If so, these may be the closest we will get to an understanding of how Vaughan Williams intended his symphonies to be performed. These recordings, however, go so much further than simply being an encyclopedic collection. Boult and Vaughan Williams enjoyed a mutually beneficial collegiality and warm friendship. Boult gave the premier performances of many of these works. Most, if not all, of these recordings were made under the attentive supervision of the composer. The wonderful biography of the composer, which was written by his second wife, chronicles many of these events in a most humanly interesting way. On the other hand, Michael Kennedy?s monumental book analyzing the complete works of the composer adds some technical details about these recordings, which are of interest to anyone devoted strongly enough to RVW to want to have his complete symphonic output on cd. All of the recordings are better than very good. The technical work of remastering has been done to perfection. The performances are full blooded, expressive and exciting. Everyone will have his own favorite among these discs, but to this listener the `Tallis Fantasia? and `Sinfonia Antarctica? stand out over other recordings of the same works. The ?Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis? was originally composed for and performed in a cavernous cathedral space at a Three Choirs Festival. This performance communicates the mysticism of the work in a way in which I have never heard anyone else succeed. Likewise, ?The Sinfonia Antarctica? or ?Symphony No. 7? is here performed with the poems and excerpts from Scott?s journal read by a young Sir John Gielgud before each movement. This does very much to enhance the total effect. Remembering that this was initially film music, later adapted into a symphony, only heightens one?s estimation of the composer. Vaughan Williams was a bold and progressive artist, firmly rooted in the great mainstream tradition. As he labeled Holst and himself: they were `heirs and rebels? of the great tradition. To any serious musician or music lover, this collection is essential.