Vaughan Williams

Christmas Fantasia ALBCD063

A Christmas Fantasia (Albion Records)

A well-planned and beautifully executed programme sure to summon some Christmas cheer [NB]

RVW Grinke Albion

Vaughan Williams: The Grinke Legacy (Albion Records)

Performances of real stature, superbly restored and immaculately presented [NB]

sweet city signum

That Sweet City (Signum Classics)

Two wonderful evocations of English pastoral and bucolic themes [JF]

Vaughan Williams: Royal Throne of Kings (Albion Records)

An essential investment for all RVW enthusiasts [JF]

VW Christmas ALBCD050

Vaughan Williams: An Oxford Christmas (Albion Records)

Favourite carols in new guises and hidden gems, in an enjoyable account [JF]

VW carols ALBCD064

Carols from Herefordshire (Albion Records)

Beautifully performed and lovingly presented but not essential listening [NB]

Vaughan Williams: Royal Throne of Kings (Albion Records)

Another well planned, well executed survey of little-known Vaughan Williams [NB]

VW carols ALBCD064

Carols from Herefordshire (Albion Records)

An ideal Christmas present for enthusiasts of RVW’s folksong transcriptions [JF]

Music for Stage and Screen (Albion Records)

A valuable contribution to the recorded legacy of British music [JF]

romance reverie albion

Romance and Reverie: Holst and his contemporaries (Albion Records)

Well played but unevenly programmed [NB]

Vaughan Williams: The Grinke Legacy (Albion Records)

Frederick Grinke’s recordings restored for a new generation – and high time too [JW]

vaughan williams quartets cpo

Vaughan Williams: The Complete String Quartets (cpo)

Generous and intelligent coupling, but the performances are not competitive [NB]

A Christmas Fantasia Albion ALBCD063

A Christmas Fantasia (Albion Records)

Rare repertoire and a few old favourites for good measure [JF]

RVW Grinke Legacy Albion ALBCD061

Vaughan Williams: The Grinke Legacy (Albion Records)

This release will appeal to both fans of Vaughan Williams’ early recordings and followers of the artistry of Frederick Grinke [SG]

romance reverie albion

Romance and Reverie: Holst and His Contemporaries (Albion Records)

An enticing selection of rarities and imaginative arrangements [JF]

Leopold Stokowski (conductor) BBC Legends Recordings 1963-74 (ICA Classics)

A collection of Stokowski’s live performances from the end of his career is inevitably something of a mixed bag [PCG]

Shadows light CC60352

From Shadows to Light. Works for violin & piano (Claudio)

An attractive recital spanning a century of composition [JW]

Cantabile: Anthems for Viola (Delphian)

Two fine artists in a fascinating and wide-ranging programme [WH]

Menges vln 850472

Isolde Menges (violin) (Biddulph)

A great artist’s important legacy restored, including first recordings of Beethoven, Bach and Vaughan Williams [JW]

Abbeyrd AlphaClassics869

Braunstein: Abbey Road Concerto (Alpha Classics)

The Beatles rub shoulders with Delius and RVW’S The Lark [JW]

VW future CDLX7411

Vaughan Williams: The Steersman, The Future, Fantasia (Dutton)

Sheds fresh light on Vaughan Williams’ composing activities around the turn of the twentieth century [JQ]

ferrier british songs naxos

Kathleen Ferrier (contralto) Songs of the British Isles (Naxos)

(Déjà Review) Craftsmanship that is quite incredible … remarkable control … a masterful, spirited and dynamic touch [EML]

Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos 1-9 (RCA)

Over fifty years on, this set is still holding up pretty well, despite a few negligible flaws [RMo]

Fathom five DACOCD607

Full Fathom Five (Danacord)

Altogether a pleasurable experience [RB]