Classicalite's Five Best: Ralph Vaughan Williams Works

After my impassioned plea for orchestras and conductors to take note of this month's centenary of the Vaughan Williams "London" Symphony, it occurs to me that many readers, especially those outside of the U.K., may not be over-familiar with the great composer's music.

So, here, for the benefit of all and the indulgence of my slight obsession, are Classicalite's Five Best for getting to know Ralph Vaughan Williams, with recommended recordings.

Enjoy!

Symphony No. 1, the "Sea" Symphony

The sheer breadth of this choral epic which, like the English Channel, seems to roll out towards Europe and the great continental composers, is stunning. With the drama of the solo voices, especially the baritone, used to thrilling effect. Recording of choice? For that European view, Bernard Haitink for Warner (formerly EMI) finds complexities most miss.

The Lark Ascending

I'm not sure it's Vaughan Williams' most profound work, but it is certainly his most popular, and very touching. Violinists love it because it's so grateful to the soloist. Recording of choice? If you can put up with dated sound, there's a magnificent 1950 recording with Jean Pougnet and Sir Adrian Boult (Dutton). For something modern, I hear great things about Tasmin Little's recently-released account, on Chandos (haven't heard it myself yet).

Chamber music

A rarity even for RVW aficionados is the wonderful Phantasy quintet. This and his first and second quartets are on a scintillating disc from Naxos, with the Maggini Quartet. A real jewel. I wish more recordings were forthcoming of this repertoire, but only for variety, not because these aren't top-notch!

Sir John in Love

Of all of the Vaughan Williams operas, and it's not the genre he's best-known for, this one has real charm. Think of it as the English Falstaff. Which it is (and which Falstaff himself was, of course). Gorgeous treatments of folk tunes, including "Greensleeves," abound. Richard Hickox carries the day, for Chandos, with the ever-wonderful Donald Maxwell as the fat knight.

Sinfonia Antarctica

Back to the symphonies. Many, I know, would put the fifth alongside the first and second on an essential listening list. But the seventh, derived from the music its composer wrote for the film Scott of the Antarctic, is inexpressibly atmospheric. And its sense of nature's omnipotence is quietly terrifying. Which recording you go for will somewhat depend on whether you like it with the short narrations read between movements. When they're read by a Ralph Richardson or a John Gielgud (both of whom appear on early recordings), I find that powerfully dramatic, but then there are other, musical and historical, reasons to bin them. So, my choice is the London Philharmonic under Sir Adrian Boult, tremendously compelling in 1953 with Gielgud alongside. But if you want it without narration, or in more modern sound, well, you can't go wrong with Vernon Handley.