Enjoy Concertos? Enjoy Vaughan Williams?

 

Well, here they are!

And what better authority could one ask for than from Bryden Thomson with the London Symphony Orchestra with leading soloists of the time?

And what about a 2CD set of Vaughan Williams concertos? Some are of his melancholic, modal landscapes, while others thrust further into modernism. Both attributes are stunning settings by the British composer. Chandos' large cathedral sound won't be for everyone, but I find these rather beautiful.

 

 A review from 2022

 Chandos collates all of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ concertante music (Tuba, Oboe, Violin, Piano) together, culled from Bryden Thomson’s RVW symphony cycle, also on Chandos. In addition, we have works for string orchestra, the Concerto Grosso and Partita, as well as Towards the Unknown Region for chorus. If there is anything missing, it might be the Suite for Viola or the Two-Piano Concerto, although the latter is a revamping of the actual Piano Concerto.

I can’t think of another collection of Vaughan Williams’ concertos without having to invest in a major box, so Chandos’ collection is most welcome, performed gloriously by the London SO, et al.

RVW’s concertante music, to my ears, sounds plaintively wistful, preferring minor keys and wandering into folk-tinged modes. The Tuba Concerto and the Piano Concerto are more heroic and epic in scale compared to the others, and the Concerto Accademico for violin is much sparer, while the Oboe Concerto is perhaps stereotypically VW in the best sense.

The string orchestra music continues the songful melancholy. The Partita is almost aggressively expressionist, alongside the loud banging of the piano concerto, by far VW’s most modern sounding works on this collection. The Concerto Grosso is most attractive, plangent in a folksy fashion, but much more bucolic in feeling, alongside the rustic Oboe Concerto.

This is a beautiful reading of The Lark Ascending for violin; both plush and Romantic, one could listen over and over again for days. The Two Hymn-Tune Preludes are gorgeous, short, contemplative works included as bonus items. Towards the Unknown Region rides akin to VW’s A Sea Symphony with its universal mankind poetry from Walt Whitman.

The biggest boon to this collection is the full, lush sound of the London Symphony Orchestra, captured majestically at London’s St. Jude’s-on-the-Hill. The bass is cinematic in its strong foundation, and the strings plushly cushion the music, basking in a warm glow. Simply Beautiful! The Tuba and Piano Concertos find more of the cathedral acoustic compared to the others; I assume to allow for the larger symphonic forces. The many featured soloists are all leaders of British orchestras and masters in their field, and are each captured ideally against the orchestral forces.

Highly Recommended! especially as a one-stop shop of Vaughan Williams’ concertos. The wonderful sonics and excellent playing from all involved are mere icing on the cake.

 

 

 

Works
Concerto Grosso (16.54)
Oboe Concerto (19.57)
Violin Concerto (16.49)
Tuba Concerto (13.12)
Piano Concerto (25.42)
Partita (19.43)
Two Hymn Preludes (8.19)
Toward an Unknown Region (13.19)

Soloists
Michael Davis, violin
Kenneth Sillito, violin
David Theodore, oboe
Patrick Harrild, tuba
Howard Shelley, piano

Ensembles
London Symphony Orchestra
Bryden Thomson, conductor

Label: Chandos
Year: 1987-90; 1994
Timing: 2.30.25
   CD1: 75.45
   CD2: 74.40

 

 

 

 

Along with the symphonies and the repackaged fantasias and rhapsodies from Vaughan Williams, this 2CD set of concertos from Bryden Thomson and the LSO is wonderful.

No hesitation. Pick it up!