Bit by bit the LSO and Sir Antonio are gathering a VW Symphony Cycle of the utmost distinction. Following Four and Six, Five and Nine make a thought-provoking coupling – the contemplative, spiritual Fifth, a radiant corollary to World War II, which some commentators suggested back then might be his final such work (he was already elderly), but, no, four more Symphonies, very different, with no lessening of imagination, and powerful communication, came along. The sacred Fifth is eloquent and mystic, beautifully played, especially nimble in the niftier-than-usual second movement, brought off with considerable attention to detail, and the succeeding ‘Romanza’ is quietly glorious, and transporting, if not without agitation, and the outer movements, ecstatically climaxed, steal the listener’s soul. Barbirolli and Boult of course in this music (especially a live performance from the latter, below), with Brabbins, Handley, Previn, and Slatkin, to make a formidable collective (and Spano, Telarc), as they do (except Barbirolli, no recording even if he conducted it) for the underrated Ninth, Boult twice, maybe/maybe not related to Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles, and/or Stonehenge, VW’s exit Symphony, with scoring that includes a flugelhorn and a trio of saxophones, conjures much that is suggestive and gripping, vividly projected here, certainly not by a composer going through the motions or repeating himself. Pappano finds shadows of mortality within invention and colours courtesy of a still-searching creator. LSO Live LSO0900 [SACD].