Vaughan Williams - Symphony 5 [Gibson-Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]
I can't believe that this is only the second time that this Symphony appears in my Blog, it's my favourite Vaughan Williams Symphony, it's the first one i ever heard [Previn / RCA], and it made a great impression on me, this is a nice 2 disc set, mainly from Paavo Berglund, except this work, it's actually the first time i've played it, i think in my ongoing search for the 'new', i'm neglecting the 'old', some of these old friends really hit you in the heart when you meet them again.
Alexander Gibson is Scottish, 1926-1995, he recorded this work in 1982, the front booklet cover is very creative, a picture of a wasp's nest [photo by Tom Wenseleers], of course it's referencing 'The Wasps Overture', but it's well composed, very sharp for the subject matter, nice and colourful, the lettering in a square box in the middle, the logo makes a lovely dash of colour.
The third movement is so heavenly, there's a lovely hush at the start, very spiritual, and the cor anglais refrain just adds to the goosebumps mood [0:38-1:03], the slow build up really pays dividends as it naturally blossoms out, there's a wonderful pastoral mood as all the woodwinds have a turn, flute, oboe, and clarinet [2:11-2:35], the oboe and cor anglais duet is well done [4:38+], and then it's rounded out by the flute and clarinet, wow, i just love those shimmering strings [6:47+], that's the best little section i heard today, the central section seems to have music that is a little more sour, but it's nicely offset by the opening returning sweet, right at the end there's a lovely quiet offstage trumpet [11:35-11:56], which brings the movement to a melancholy close, now that's the very best of Vaughan Williams.
Here's Vernon Handley playing the third movement Romanza on YouTube.
Here's Vernon Handley playing the third movement Romanza on YouTube.
