CD-Charts Position 1

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Vaughan Williams - Orchestral Favourites

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
by: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

Release Date June 02, 2003

CD-Charts Position 2
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English Landscapes

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
by: Hallé Choir Hallé Orchestra

Release Date October 02, 2006
Having previously purchased the Halle Debussy/Matthews "Lar Mer & Preludes" CD and thoroughly enjoyed it, I purchased this CD very much "on spec".

I wasn't disappointed. I had never previously heard the "Tintagel" composition, but was immediately taken by it. Powerful, moving, evolving are the best descriptors I can offer of this piece. "The fall of the leaf" is equally touching and enigmatic. I have many copies of VW's "Lark Ascending", but the Halle version on this CD is second to none.

Each of the chosen pieces on this CD wonderfully complement each other. A true situation where 2 + 2 = 5 !

Well (and easily) recommended to lovers of English Musical Landscapes.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Vaughan Williams - Symphony No 4

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
from: Naxos

Release Date November 01, 2004
Over the years I've found it surprisingly difficult to find a really recommendable version of Vaughan Williams's 4th Symphony. I have the complete sets of the symphonies by Handley, Haitink and Previn, and in each case I feel the 4th receives the weakest performance in the cycle. I also have the much praised Hickox version, but haven't found myself liking it for some reason.

Fortunately I have been very impressed by this version by Daniel and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. I think it is the finest since Berglund's version, also with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, which I used to have on an old EMI cassette. Under Daniel's baton, the fast music is ferocious and exciting, and the slow movement dark and threatening, exactly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Vaughan Williams - Orchestral Works

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
by: Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Release Date April 01, 1995
Over the years I've found it surprisingly difficult to find a really recommendable version of Vaughan Williams's 4th Symphony. I have the complete sets of the symphonies by Handley, Haitink and Previn, and in each case I feel the 4th receives the weakest performance in the cycle. I also have the much praised Hickox version, but haven't found myself liking it for some reason.

Fortunately I have been very impressed by this version by Daniel and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. I think it is the finest since Berglund's version, also with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, which I used to have on an old EMI cassette. Under Daniel's baton, the fast music is ferocious and exciting, and the slow movement dark and threatening, exactly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Vaughan Williams - Symphony No 3 'Pastoral'

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
by: London Symphony Orchestra

Release Date April 14, 2003
This is another excellent disc from Handley's RVW cycle for Chandos, but not as outstanding as the 2nd or 4th.

The third is an elusive piece but Hickox and the LSO manage to present tension alongside radiance, nobility and light alongside darkness and tragedy in a piece awash with emotional ambiguity as well as bitonality. The result is excellent, but for once in this series, not quite as convincing as Previn's recording for RCA with the same orchestra. Previn's performance also seems better judged as sound, though it can't boast the superb richness of the new Chandos. What I mean by that first comment is that Previn gets little balances just right, like the appropriate toughness in the strings at times (whereas Hickox's are consistently ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 3 "Pastoral"

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
from: Chandos

Release Date August 19, 2002
Hickox gives an extremely sensitive account of A Pastoral Symphony, which penetrates to the elegiac nature of music inspired by experiences of the First World War. The LSO plays exquisitely and soprano Rebecca Evans sings the wordless solos with a heavenly tone. A bonus of this CD is the first performance in generations of the Norfolk Rhapsody No 2, a beautifully tuneful follow-up to the first rhapsody which is also included here. This is some of the best English classical music ever composed and this is as fine a recording as you could wish for. I notice that Hickox/LSO's recording of Vaughn Williams Symphony No 4 is also available on Amazon and I highly recommend both CDs.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Orchestral Works: Fantasia on Greensleeves; Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1; In the Fen Country"

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
from: Decca

Release Date March 01, 1994
Hickox gives an extremely sensitive account of A Pastoral Symphony, which penetrates to the elegiac nature of music inspired by experiences of the First World War. The LSO plays exquisitely and soprano Rebecca Evans sings the wordless solos with a heavenly tone. A bonus of this CD is the first performance in generations of the Norfolk Rhapsody No 2, a beautifully tuneful follow-up to the first rhapsody which is also included here. This is some of the best English classical music ever composed and this is as fine a recording as you could wish for. I notice that Hickox/LSO's recording of Vaughn Williams Symphony No 4 is also available on Amazon and I highly recommend both CDs.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
from: British Composers

Release Date September 09, 1991
Not many conductors match Adrian Boult's masterly performances of V-Williams music, for its rich tonal colours, noble poise and eloquence. Definitely a must-buy CD for anyone who loves VW's music!

CD-Charts Position 9
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Vaughan Williams - Symphony No 5 & Orchestral Works

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
by: London Philharmonic Orchestra

Release Date October 02, 1995
At the first performance of Vaughan Williams’ Fifth at a Prom concert in 1943, the symphony was generally seen as an old man’s musical last will and testament, a calm vision of a heaven he was expected soon to join. Later it was dismissed as merely a pot-pourri of themes from his opera, Pilgrim’s Progress (much as the Antarctica was later dismissed as a serious symphony for its use of film music from Scott of the Antarctic).

Both of these views seriously underestimate the work. The first was soon put paid to by the violent opening of the Sixth Symphony, never mind its bleak finale. As for the latter, it could be argued (and I would) that this is the most cogently argued and symphonic of all VW’s symphonies. While the Fourth ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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Vaughan Williams - Complete Symphonies etc

Search: Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
by: London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra

Release Date October 09, 2000
The VW symphonies have done remarkably well on disc. Complete cycles by Previn, Haitink and Tod Handley all make substantial claims. Individual symphonies from Richard Hickox, Andrew Davis, Vaughan Williams himself and, of course, 'Glorious John' Barbirolli (as VW christened him) also demand attention. But, if you're looking for a complete overview of the Vaughan Williams symphonic canon (plus quite a lot of substantial extras) then this Boult set is probably still the best all-round recommendation.

Even he has a substantial rival in his earlier self on Decca, conducted under the gaze of the composer who delivers a touching speech of thanks to the players at the end of the pianissimo finale of the Sixth Symphony. This earlier Decca version probably ... Read More: