Previously published on October 9
Although not released until October 30 I feel that an early share is in order.
Martyn Brabbins has reached the halfway point in his Hyperion/BBCSO Vaughan Williams Symphony cycle and his account of the solace-giving and transcending Fifth (first heard in 1943, the composer conducting) is as notable as the first four in terms of performance and recording.
VW5 has come my way quite a bit recently (no hardship) – including Boult’s early-1950s version, Manze, and Collins, although to my shame, Elder’s Hallé version remains unopened, a wrong I must right.
Brabbins’s view of Symphony 5 is absorbing and spot-on in terms of tempo, transitions, phrasing and closely observed detailing and dynamics, structurally seamless from distant horizons to organically arrived-at ecstatic climaxes, the BBCSO opulent and sensitive in response, beautifully recorded by Simon Eadon and flawlessly produced by Andrew Keener. In particular, the ‘Romanza’ third movement is especially rapt.
When one considers the competition in this work from such VW luminaries as Barbirolli, Boult, Andrew Davis, Gibson, Haitink, Handley, Previn, Rozhdestvensky and Slatkin (none of which I would want to be without), I can only say that – at this moment – I would most miss Brabbins and the recent Michael Collins (BIS).
The rest of Hyperion’s release is devoted to “Vaughan Williams’s incidental music for The Pilgrim’s Progress [which] has seldom been heard in its original guise since the 1906 premiere…” and – cue Robert Matthew-Walker (booklet-note writer) – “… now for the first time in the history of recording we can hear his initial musical reactions to the book which was to inspire him for almost half a century. The result in 1906 was a multi-faceted score…”.
Such inspiration embraced an opera (VW preferred the designation “Morality”), which musically sometimes corresponds with Symphony 5 (the composer feared he would never finish the stage-work). Scenes adapted from Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is an enjoyable sequence of songs, dances and hymn-tunes that makes for diverting listening, not least from folk-singer Emily Portman.
Roll-on Symphonies 6 to 9, so far unrecorded by Brabbins, but with current Covid restrictions, which seem set to become even more draconian, one can only wonder when sessions with a full-size BBCSO can take place…
Brabbins’s Symphonies 3 & 4 are reviewed by me on this site: search “Three Winners from Hyperion”. Manze’s and Collins’s respective No.5s are also reviewed here.
“Cover artwork: The Harvest Moon (1833) by Samuel Palmer (1805-1881)”. Hyperion CDA68325.
I’m sure I speak for many when I say that VW5 is music that speaks to me at a very deep level, not least during this parallel universe we’re living through just now. To be privileged to work with Martyn Brabbins and the BBCSO recording this visionary symphony last year was a highlight of my 40-year long career as a producer. Is it possible to be consoled and disturbed at the same time by music such as this, which looks beyond the immediately visible? I think it is. When today’s pause button is finally released and the cycle is allowed to continue, the message of this music will be renewed and changed again. As is the way with all great art. Those who govern us: never forget that.
Well said, Mr Keener !
I wish to congratulate you and the rest of the team, including -of course- the musicians and their chief here at one of the their musical peaks. That symphony is one of my favourites for many decades now and that new recording brings it to life with lush, brilliant and (I am tempted to say) “living” sound. Million thanks for such a real musical jewel amidst almost surreal times of worldwide pandemic. God bless, Jean Couture (Quebec city, Canada, 12-12-2020)