Walton: Symphony 2

 

William Walton's Symphony no. 2 carries the second child problem. The work bears all of the same fine qualities of the First Symphony, but it is different, thus it lacks some of that original spark which comes of initial or premiere works. Luckily, the London Symphony Orchestra is back with André Previn leading, reigniting their famous collaboration in the Walton's First Symphony (BLOG)

For those looking to explore more music off-the-beaten path from British composer, Constant Lambert is your man. A bit of an eccentric, this comes through his music such as the 15-minute Rio Grande for piano soloist, chorus, and vocal soloist. The Concerto for Nine Players and solo piano shows Lambert was a modern composer too, where a love of jazz comes forth. The rest are short pieces for solo piano, here played by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett.

It is hard to find this EMI British Composers compilation nowadays, so I included the alternate Warner Classics cover art this recording is now usually found with at the very bottom of this blog post.

Those looking to explore the Second Symphony from William Walton will have much to satisfy in this performance, I think, although probably only the curious listener will want to get into the music of Constant Lambert. Worthwhile for these ears!

A review from 2021

This EMI British Composers release compiles parts of two different recordings from the 70’s: Sir William Walton’s Symphony 2 and Constant Lambert’s Rio Grande with André Previn and the LSO on EMI, and Lambert’s Piano Concerto with 9 players alongside some short, jazzy piano solos from British Piano Music of the 20’s and 30’s featuring Richard Rodney Bennett on piano, also on EMI.

If you have only heard Walton’s stormy, war-time 1st Symphony, given a reference recording from these same performers on RCA, the 2nd is an interesting listen. All of the angry, rhythmic energy is still served up in brusque fashion, but new to his symphonic voice are some shimmery, cinematic moods. Walton’s symphonic voice is still one that needs repeated listens for appreciation, but his Symphony 2 deserves an equal foothold next to the famous 1st, although it is told in much more efficient form.

André Previn gives as much commitment as he did his famous traversal of the 1st. LSO and Previn take chances, and it is their go-for-broke attitude with sharp edges, plus that wonderfully, well-prepared build-up to the major climax in the middle movement, which makes this performance stand apart. The EMI sound captures all of Walton’s strange atmospheric percussion and textures very well.

Constant Lambert’s orchestral music is an interesting mix of Gershwin and Stravinsky; Darius Milhaud comes to mind when I listen to him. His famous Rio Grande is an odd conglomeration of piano concerto and choral music, but with a strong, easy-on-the-ears jazzy temperament, while his Piano Concerto with 9 players is more striking with its balance of jazz elements and modernism. The solo piano works from both composers are also solidly in the jazz world, but their 9-minute total runtime are light-work fillers.

Lambert’s Rio Grande charges under Previn and the LSO, although its lighter stature is an unusual bedfellow to Walton. The London Madrigal Singers are caught close up, often to the detriment of the solo piano, but it is an exciting, close-up sound. Neville Dilkes and his English Sinfonia make fine work of the Concerto, and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett is obviously having fun with these piano pieces.

For me the real draw of this recording is a superb reading of Walton’s Symphony 2 from the London Symphony Orchestra, one of real power and strength. I like Lambert’s Rio Grande for its quirkiness, although his Concerto doesn’t share the same populous fervor. The solo piano works are mere makeweights for me, and I doubt I will revisit them much.

Works
William Walton
    Symphony 2 (27.28)
    Façade: Old Sir Faulk (1.51)
Constant Lambert
    Rio Grande (14.57)
    Concerto for Nine Players (27.10)
    Elegiac Blues (3.24)
    Elegy (3.53)

Soloists
Cristina Ortiz, piano
Robert Russell Bennett, piano
Jean Temperley, mezzo-soprano

Ensembles
London Madrigal Singers
London Symphony Orchestra
  André Previn, conductor
English Sinfonia
  Neville Dikes, conductor

Label: EMI
Year: 1973 & 1975; 1996 & 2005
Total Timing: 79.05

 

 

 

Walton's Second Symphony doesn't create the same magic as the first, but that doesn't mean it is not worthwhile.

Certainly, Previn and London make their best case for its music.

Whether or not the music of Constant Lambert works for you will depend on your level of comfort for unusual modernism. The pieces on this program have both.

 

 

 

 

Find more Walton recordings HERE!