I know I’ve groused about the lack of Vaughan Williams performances in the United States, especially last year, surrounding the composer’s sesquicentenary, while seemingly the party never stopped – and continues – in the U.K.
This year, things are looking a little better, with more Vaughan Williams performances across the U.S. I can’t make all of these, of course – it’s a big country, and I’ve got limited resources – but, if I am able to make arrangements, I am game for anything roughly down to the D.C area, possibly up to Boston, and as far west as Pittsburgh.
In the U.S., you’re most likely to encounter the composer’s choral and vocal works. Beyond the “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis” and “The Lark Ascending,” performances of the big orchestral pieces by major orchestras are rare.
Here are some RVW performances that have come to my attention for the 2023-24 season, with a special emphasis on fairly local performances scheduled to take place over the next seven weeks or so.
Wouldn’t you know it, my favorite of the symphonies, the Symphony No. 5, makes a strong showing this year. Unfortunately, I’ve got scheduling conflicts for both performances by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, which will take place this Thursday and Saturday. Sir Andrew Davis will conduct. If you’re in the Baltimore area, go!
https://my.bsomusic.org/overview/18271
Happily, there’s another performance this week, by the New Jersey Festival Orchestra, and it will be held only about an hour from where I live. The concert will take place on Friday at 7 p.m. at St. Helen’s Church, 1600 Rahway Ave., in Westfield, NJ. Also on the program will be Beethoven’s Fifth. David Wroe will conduct.
https://www.njfestivalorchestra.org/concerts
Then on November 4 at 7:30 p.m., the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra will perform the Fifth at Calvary Baptist Church, 1380 S. Valley Forge Road, in Lansdale, PA – again, for me about an hour away. Also on the program will be Elgar’s “Enigma Variations.” Allan R. Scott will conduct.
https://www.spso.info/concert-ii-elgars-enigma/
Not to be outdone, the Main Line Symphony Orchestra will perform the Fifth on November 17 at 8 p.m., again about an hour away, at Valley Forge Middle School in Wayne, PA. The latter concert is especially attractive in that the Symphony No. 2 by Vaughan Williams pupil Ruth Gipps will also be performed. Ernest Bloch’s “Schelomo” will feature as soloist Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Yumi Kendall. The conductor will be Don Liuzzi, also of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
https://www.mlso.org/concerts.htm
That’s a lot of Fifths! With the exception of the Baltimore performances, which, as I say, I cannot make, I will do my best to attend the rest.
More astonishingly, the Symphony No. 8 will be undertaken by the New Conductors Orchestra at Good Shepherd-Faith Church, 152 W. 66th St., in New York City, on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. & Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. I say astonishingly, because the percussion section in this work is quite lavish, including tuned gongs, which makes me wonder if there will be substitutions. Also on the program will be works by Kabalevsky, Smetana, and Gershwin. The program’s conductors will include Eric R. Stewart, Hannah Nacheman, and Mark Powell.
https://www.newconductorsorchestra.org/concerts
Anyone know of any other Vaughan Williams concerts, between Boston and D.C.? If so, let me know!
A cursory glance at 2023-24 concert schedules across the U.S. reveals the Utah Symphony will perform the Symphony No. 5 with Donald Runnicles on January 12 & 13; the Los Angeles Philharmonic will perform the Symphony No. 8 with Simone Young on April 4, 6 & 7; the Seattle Symphony will perform the “Sinfonia Antartica” with Gemma New on April 25, 27 & 28; the Charlotte Symphony will perform “A Sea Symphony” with Christopher Warren-Green on April 26 & 27; and the Colorado Symphony will perform “A Sea Symphony” with Peter Oundjian on May 18 & 19.
Surely, there are others, especially among regional orchestras. The Oboe Concerto is being done with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra on December 1, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra on April 12 & 13, and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra on March 1-3. Perhaps elsewhere?
I probably won’t be able to make these farther-flung concerts, but perhaps you can?
EDIT: Sincere thanks to David Woodward for informing me that the Colorado Symphony Orchestra will also perform the “Serenade to Music,” with Duain Wolfe conducting, Nov. 17-19.
And thanks also to Byron Adams for pointing out that “Serenade to Music” is also on this season’s concerts of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. It was performed there this past weekend.
PHOTO: Harvesting a veritable bumper crop of Vaughan Williams
