Vaughan Williams - Symphony 2 'London' [Thomson-The London Symphony Orchestra]
The Scot Bryden Thomson has recorded the complete Symphonies of Vaughan Williams, it's an excellent cycle, all were originally released singularly, with another work as a companion, his Second Symphony is very good indeed, recorded in the late eighties, [Bryden Thomson passed away in 1991].
All of the booklets feature a Turner painting, this one is 'The Burning Of The Houses Of Parliament' [1834], a nice rich painting of golds.
The Second Symphony is so rich in imagery, it conjures up London so well, it's my second favourite RVW Symphony after the Fifth, the second movement Lento is sheer mystery, starting on low ghostly strings, a plaintive oboe soon appears [0:17-0:38], and the violins come in stronger [0:57+], a lovely start, so atmospheric, the strings create this gentle pulse [2:03-2:58], Vaughan Williams builds things up so delicately, a master Composer, there's a more folk tune type middle section, introduced by the viola, but taken up with other woodwind, with the tambourine beating away [4:41-6:18], and then the strings weave their magic, they steal in with such sweet force [6:18+], and a second wave comes along even more powerful [7:27+], probably the best section of this movement, the mysterious opening returns, and the solo viola has the last word, the whole thing is so emotional.
Here's the last movement conducted by Randal Swiggum on YouTube.
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