Name: Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 8
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Elder's way with Vaughan Williams' Fifth Symphony is one of those interpretations that grows with repeated hearings. As expected from the current Halle vintage, it's finely played in every department,... — BBC Music Magazine, May 2013, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 11th Feb 2013
Catalogue No: CDHLL7533
Label: Hallé
Series: Elder Vaughan Williams Series
Length: 68 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

25th February 2013
Gramophone Magazine

May 2013

Editor's Choice

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Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5 in D major

Work length38:59

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Hallé Orchestra
Mark Elder

I. Preludio

Track length11:27

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II. Scherzo

Track length5:04

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III. Romanza

Track length12:17

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Album only

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IV. Passacaglia

Track length10:11

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Album only

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Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 8 in D minor

Work length29:19

Album only

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Album only

This work is only available as an album download.

Album only

This work is only available as an album download.

Hallé Orchestra
Mark Elder

I. Fantasia (Variazioni senza tema)

Track length10:55

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II. Scherzo all marcia (per stromenti a fiato)

Track length3:49

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III. Cavatina (per stromenti ad arco)

Track length9:18

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IV. Toccata

Track length5:17

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Composer Guides, Ralph Vaughan Williams

David picks out some top recordings of the works of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Recording of the Week, Vaughan Williams from the Hallé and Mark Elder

25th February 2013

Following a splendid London Symphony last year, Elder and his Manchester orchestra continue a cycle which is shaping up to be one of the finest modern sets on disc with magnificent accounts of the Fifth and Eighth symphonies, with the Hallé’s horns emerging as first among equals.

Hallé returns with its second volume of works by Vaughan Williams, continuing its award winning survey of British music under its Musical Director, Sir Mark Elder.

Latest release for award winning label in the English repertoire at which it excels

The release combines two highly contrasting works to provide a disc which is both moving and uplifting.

Symphony No.5 is a generally tranquil work with music influenced by Ravel, with whom Vaughan Williams had studied, and is scored for very traditional forces

Symphony No.8 is dedicated to Sir John Barbirolli and was premièred by the Hallé in 1956. It is the shortest and least serious of the symphonies and whilst not being without moments of somber mood, is generally light hearted in tone. It is has a more exotic instrumental colour, with an enhanced percussion section.

These works have long been part of Hallé’s concert repertoire under Sir Mark Elder in performances which have drawn great critical praise:

'I cannot think of another conductor around today better equipped to conduct this score than Sir Mark and he didn’t disappoint.' Michael Cookson, 'Seen and Heard International', Review of performance of Symphony No.5, Nov 2011

Reviews

May 2013

Elder's way with Vaughan Williams' Fifth Symphony is one of those interpretations that grows with repeated hearings. As expected from the current Halle vintage, it's finely played in every department, with true live-recording atmosphere.

13th April 2013

An unexpectedly rewarding disc

May 2013

Elder's sense of atmosphere and specific locality win out...The Scherzo shows the Hallé winds and brass to excellent effect and I was warmed by Elder's well-aimed use of string portamentos in the 'Cavatina'...I would recommend it unreservedly.

April 2013

Elder’s is the most satisfying performance of RVW’s Symphony 5 that I’ve heard. Why? For me it’s because he gets the tempi just right. He isn’t afraid to be unhurried and yet at the same time a flowing, forward pulse is always apparent...The glory of this CD from Elder is that it offers a consistent and sustained appreciation of the reflective aspects of these RVW symphonies.

25th February 2013

The playing on this live recording is superb throughout...For me, though, the stars of this recording are definitely the horns: their sound is consistently glorious...All in all this is a splendid recording from Elder and the Hallé.

17th March 2013

It is the performance of the Fifth...that sounds special here...Elder and the Hallé claim this music as much their own as they do their Eighth.

28th February 2013

Elder's account of the Fifth has a wonderful easy breadth, a sense of inevitable unfolding that pays most dividends in the third-movement Romanza...it's the shimmering tuned percussion in the outer movements [of the Eighth] that defines the work, and Elder makes the integration of those textures seem the most natural thing in the world.

30th March 2013

These wonderfully affectionate recordings of the Fifth and Eighth Symphonies ...are essential listening for devotees of English music...Both are gloriously played.

16th March 2013

Vaughan Williams’s outwardly serene Symphony No. 5 is a difficult work to get right...Which is why Sir Mark Elder’s recording does succeed; he manages to inject a hint of drama into the static opening movement and brings the Scherzo to life...Elder plays up the [Eighth] symphony’s offbeat battiness...It’s wonderful – trust me.

Special offer. Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 8

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Contents

Composer Guides, Ralph Vaughan Williams

Recording of the Week, Vaughan Williams from the Hallé and Mark Elder

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