Music and Vinyl: Vaughan Williams

One of the great composers of the 20th century, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) wrote nine highly individual symphonies which spanned the years 1903 to 1956. His Symphony No.2 was first performed in 1914 but revised many times until the final version was published in 1936. Subtitled "A London Symphony", Vaughan Williams responded to comments about the work being programmatic by saying it could be called a "Symphony by a Londoner".

Paul Serotsky has written these excellent programme notes on the work.

In the 1970s record collectors had the option of acquiring two competing cycles of RVW symphonies - one from Sir Adrian Boult (who was a friend of Vaughan Williams and had intimate connections with the music) and the other from American André Previn. He was making waves with the London Symphony Orchestra, most notably with his recording of Walton's 1st Symphony in 1966 - a recording that holds the gold standard for the work even today. At the time I could only afford one set and I settled on Boult's cycle - and I've already posted his EMI recordings of the 4th and 5th symphonies. But here we have RCA's recording of A London Symphony with Previn. Every bit the equal of Boult's IMO.