2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams (on October 12, 1872). Following up on yesterday’s post about the composer’s connections to the Day Lewis family, here’s some additional RVW material to brighten the weekend of any musical Anglophile.
I transcribed the text of C. Day Lewis’ encomium, on the occasion of RVW’s 85th birthday, from this first-rate radio documentary, which also includes abundant commentary by Vaughan Williams himself, his wife Ursula, Sir Adrian Boult, Sir John Barbirolli, and others. I highly recommend it.
Then enjoy two concert performances of Vaughan Williams symphonies led by two of his most notable American interpreters. André Previn conducts the Houston Symphony at Carnegie Hall in the Symphony No. 4, from 1969, and Leonard Slatkin conducts the Chicago Symphony in the Symphony No. 5, from 1988. Both conductors went on to record acclaimed cycles of Vaughan Williams’ symphonies.
You don’t have to purchase the recordings at the link. Just click on any of the arrows and allow them to play through. The tracks will play continuously, from one into another.
These works – which couldn’t be more different – should be in the repertoire of every American orchestra. Sadly, it looks as if we’re in for another year of “Tallis Fantasias,” if that. If anyone happens to hear of a Vaughan Williams symphony being performed live on the East Coast, PLEASE let me know!