Title : Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony
Author : Vaughan Williams, Ralph
Release Date : 20020723
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $14.80
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Editorial Reviews : This beautifully recorded, no-nonsense, not overly sentimental, quick-tempo account of Vaughan Williams's lush choral symphony is most welcome. It's a work that matches the mystical--Walt Whitman's poetry--with some folklike sea rhythms Vaughan Williams tosses into the mix. Though it's perhaps not as warm as some versions, conductor Robert Spano opts for lots of excitement in the grand moments ('Sail forth' in the last movement, for instance). The warmth is written into the music anyway and is present no matter what. The second movement's stillness is as impressive as the 'perfect storm' sections. The playing of the Atlanta Symphony is big and beautiful, and soprano Christine Goerke sings brightly and with ease. Her voice is just the right weight to ride the climaxes and sound intimate in the gentler moments. This is highly recommended. --Robert Levine
Buyer Reviews : A Sea Symphony is a good piece of music. Yet, when Vaughan Williams composed this work, I believe he was still a few years shy of developing a mature and consistent style (something that, once established, would last for 4 decades until his death at the age of 86). As such, being familiar with many of his other works, I find this piece to be a little less developed when compared to his later works, in particular, his symphonies. For example, it does not have the deep emotionally reflective qualities of his 3rd or 5th and is not as rythmically expansive as his 2nd or 7th symphonies. The forces used are large, yet they are not as creatively used as his overlooked 8th symphony or his powerful cantata: Dona Nobis Pacem. That said, A Sea Symphony is a lot of fun to listen to even after many listens. That last movement, in particular, is very enjoyable and perhaps the highlight of the work. It is here that we get a preview of the character of music that RVW would adobt in his compositional maturity.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus give an excellent performance, as do the soloists, and the sound quality is also superb. 'Flawless' is the only word that comes to mind and the trio of Grammys the recording won are well deserved. In fact, I would like to see the ASO record the remainder of Vaughan Williams' 9 symphonies. I think the time has come for an American (or at least non-British) orchestra to put out a Vaughan Williams cycle.
