Repertoire: The BEST and WORST Vaughan Williams Symphony Sets 

Amazed that the world has forgotten Handley. Best V-W for me and excellent Bax cycle.

Listening to the Boult/RVW box is like sitting down with your grandfather in front of the fireplace and listening to him tell you stories of wonder & amazement...Great Stuff 👍

Nice work- incredible to me that you can pick up a box of nine different 40min+ pieces and recall the nuances of each of their performances

Vaughan Williams is one of the loves of my life: classical, folk and religious gave me a lifelong enthusiasm for his music and others in the same genre.

David, thanks for persuading me to give RVW a fair hearing with your earlier videos on him. My only exposure to his symphonies previously had been Haitink's London Symphony which left me cold, then I read some of the looking at cows comments and noticed that recordings seemed to be limited to UK conductors and/or orchestras and wrote him off. One of your earlier videos and the cheap price persuaded me to buy the Slatkin box and I was blown away, particularly by symphonies 3 through 6. I had no idea that RVW wrote intense music like symphonies 4 and 6. Then your video of Job got me looking for a copy and I stumbled into a used 8 disc set of Boult for less than $20 that includes his stereo symphony cycle. It's still in the pile of Hurwitz induced recordings to get to.

I share your enthusiasm at the end that there are 8 different available box sets of RVW's symphonies, which I take to be a testament to the quality of his music and its staying power beyond the first half of the 20th century when most of it was composed.

7:35 - So true, so enjoyable to hear your arguments😅

Love your faultless Adrian Boult impression - you would easily pass for an Englishman :) When I was a teenager I used to wash up glasses in my local pub - the Wheatsheaf at Kingsfold, near the Surrey/Sussex border in south-east England. RVW had collected many folk songs at that pub in the early years of the 20th century. He lived at Dorking, eight miles north of Kingsfold where I grew up. RVW was related to Charles Darwin and to the Broadwood family (of piano fame).

For Boult Stereo you definitely want the Japanese 24 bit remaster box, which is sometimes available here for $40 or so. Much better sound.

A hugely enjoyable and quite witty talk about music that I really love. I indeed recall the days when Boult and Previn were the only guys in town, VW set-wise, and I absolutely agree that both of those sets (along with Boult's 1950s mono recordings, now available complete and beautifully remastered in a Decca box) have more than stood the test of time. From time to time I've dipped into single cds from some of the other sets discussed here, but none of those quite efface memories of Boult and Previn. I must confess that occasionally I've been tempted by the Haitink box, to the point where I've added it to my shopping cart. But each time, at the last moment, the Voice of Reason has always prevented me from pressing "Buy." I appreciate Slatkin's interpretations, but the performances seem to have been recorded at a fairly low level; the orchestra sounds more distant, less present, than I would prefer. Or is that impression simply a result of some flaw in my stereo system... or, more likely, a buildup of ear wax?

Thank you! Look forward to your ‘Ideal RVW Cycle’ some day :)

I remember the ongoing cycles by Previn and Boult being released and compared. Previn was a breath of fresh air when he arrived in England and I am a huge fan. He was a big "celebrity" on British TV and he reminded me of Lenny. He reached out to audiences and educated them in an interesting, non-condescending way. His cycle probably did more for VW than anyone else (Ditto Walton). Still love it! As for Haitink - I haven't heard his cycle but strangely enough some of my LPO friends who played in the sessions rate it very highly. They admired Haitink's approach. Funny old world, eh?

I'm so happy to learn that I unintentionally bought two good versions: the Antarctic Symphony by Previn by itself and the cycle by Boult. I say unintentionally because I know nothing about classical music except that it either enchants me or it doesn't.

What are your thoughts on doing a comparison of the three extant cycles, as well as some individual readings, of the Malcolm Arnold symphonies? Or even a general survey of Arnold's orchestral music?

Handley. Wonderful sea symphony. Beautiful, heartfelt. Now listening to London symphony. Used to not like this symphony. Now--i love it! Seems handley is more of a human humanistic warm charming endearing interpretation approach. Not just bluster bombast etc. Based just on these 2 recordings. Really wonderful. Sound quality is great!

Haitink's VW 7th is phenomenal (including the sonics), but the rest fit your description. Slatkin captures the otherworldliness of 8 & 9 like no one else. Previn finds the most menace in 4 & 6.

Liked previn's 2nd. Actually had to hunt it down. Bought it used in Florida.

Boy were you right on! Compared the SACD versions of the Hickox and the recently released Boult SACD... No comparison. Your description of the "blaah" factor in the Hickox performance was, in mind, exactly right.

Ralph Vaughn Williams is an incredibly underrated symphonist. Godzilla in the Shire #4 is my favorite, but 8, 9, 6, and 5 ain’t far behind. I actually have the 9th on Everest from Boult - it’s a fantastic performance but the LP is worth buying just for the somewhat surreal requiem from Sir Adrian. The complete Boult late cycle is the most sympathetic cycle. As you say, very nice colors and textures. Slatkin isn’t far behind and he does indeed do a great 4th and 6th. I agree with you strongly on the Haitink box being highly disappointing - I love Haitink so very much, especially as a Shostakovich maestro, but I ended up pitching the box. For me, Previn is consistently exciting and the 3rd best choice for one-stop shopping. His 4th and 6th aren’t the angriest, but they’re still powerful. Russophiles should check out the Rozhdestvensky box which came up on a subthread above.

Hi Dave. Another great video prompting me to look for a box set for my collection. I found both the EMI and Warner Boult box sets on Amazon. Is there any difference in sound quality between these two versions? I know the Warner version is the newer pressing. Was there any remastering done with it? Thanks

Any views on the Rozhdestvensky Leningrad one?

Any lover of Vaughan Williams' symphonies should hear at least once him conducting No 4. When I first bought my copy I thought I would listen to the opening to see what the sound was like, I was so gripped I ended listening to the whole symphony despite being tired and hungry after work. I know the recording is 85 years old and VW was not a professional conductor. No other version captures the fury and intensity of the music in the same way, or the lonely desolation of the slow movement or the sardonic, galumphing humour of the scherzo.

I too love he RVW 3. How do you not.

I read a story once, and I don't know if it's apocryphal or not. At the final rehearsal for the world premiere of the 4th Symphony, At the end, Vaughn Williams reportedly said "Well gentlemen, if that is modern music you can have it"!

I managed to find the Slatkin boxed set used at a local record shop. The previous owner must have worn all of the cologne because it spent a few days in the garage (and the box spent the better part of a year). Thankfully the performances were amazing.

Thanks for this entertaining and informative video! One quibble: I think you meant the Bryden Thomson set on Chandos had the flat dynamics, not the Vernon Handley. Handley with the RLPO has some of the very best dynamics - at least my set. The Thomson, by contrast, was recorded in a church, and those acoustics, while pleasant for live listeners, tends to negate any real dynamic contrasts - there's only so much the sound guys can do in such a space. The same thing plagues von Karajan's Schumann cycle on DG - venue of the recording.

Im new to this composer so i i wanted to start with per your advice the fourth. Your recommendation??? Thanks in advance

"a 'meaty pile' of sturm and drong" -- Dave, you can be hilarious! 😄

I think Leonard Slatkin is one of the most underrated conductors there are. Then there's the opposite: Gustavo Dudamel - YUCK

I’m a bit partial to the Hurwitz’s version of the opening of the Sea Symphony. 😏

I have the Hickox Chandos box. The items he didn't he didn't record were done instead by Sir Andrew Davis. So looks like they'd partially released what may be a final cycle in mixing these two.

Great work here, David! Completely take your point about Boult's mono cycle, except that if you get Decca 473 2412 you do get the Everest Ninth along with the other eight. And damn, the best of them are very exciting - and they were all (apart from No. 9) supervised by VW - he was literally sitting at a table a few feet from the conductor's desk and took the whole process very seriously. I guess it may be because I got to know all these pieces from those Decca recordings, but I do still love them. I wonder if you're a bit kind about Bryden Thomson's set, though there are some nice things in there in spite of all. Haitink is a puzzle. I heard him give a live performance of No. 4 at the Festival Hall which was (honestly) electrifying. That was in about 1973 but 20 or so years later the fire seems to have gone out of him - a great disappointment. But I can't share any enthusiasm for Handley - the sound is, as you say, pretty horrible, but for me the interpretations have none of Boult's character or cumulative energy (Handley's set has a lot of followers here in the UK but I'm never been one of them - it all just sounds a bit routine to me). How right you are about Previn/LSO not quite standing the test of time, good as it is. By the way, his obscure EMI recording of the Fifth is with the Peabody Orchestra (which is much more exalted than most youth orchestras) and for some reason it's actually the one of his I like best - but that's by the way. As for the spoken superscriptions for Antarctica, VW liked them enough to have them included on Boult's mono recording - which VW supervised closely (and Boult would never have gone against his wishes anyway). But you get it spot on with Boult's stereo cycle, and I'm with you all the way on Slatkin too, I mean they are both superb in different ways. Is the VW set the best thing Slatkin's done on disc? I can't think of anything better. It's interesting what you say about Slatkin's 'London'. Apart from Boult, he's one of the very few conductors to take the Scherzo at the terrifying speed VW wanted (he told Boult it should be 'as quick as possible' and with Slatkin it is). Anyway, a really enjoyable survey and thanks for it.

Gosh! I was sorry to hear your assessment of the Haitink collection. For a while there I thought I really liked it. Now I know better.

Thank you, David, for a splendid review. I actually like soft endings. They can put the listener in a contemplative mood, as RVW's soft endings always do. What a great composer! After many years of enjoying the symphonies via Boult (the mono cycle) and Previn, I decided I needed to gain a new perspective on the composer, so I went for the Haitink. This was about 5 years ago. After a while, I began to notice that my enthusiasm RVW was beginning to fade. I was finding the symphonies less enthralling than before. Then I took a cue from your earlier review of the Sea Symphony, in which you spoke very favorably of Slatkin's cycle. Having recently added it to my collection I realize now why my love for RVW's music was beginning the fade. The problem wasn't RVW, it was Haitink's literalism. Slatkin's magnificent cycle has totally renewed my enjoyment of RVW's symphonies. Thanks again for plugging the Slatkin cycle.

I own the Previn and Slatkin sets, bought individually ages ago. I'm no expert, but always enjoy them. A British magazine did a survey on VW sets. The writer described Previns as "An amiable walkthrough."

Off topic a bit but which RVW biography to go for ? Is Heffer any good ?

I too began my post childhood adult listening (post childhood full of amazement with Beethoven and Stravinsky) with RVWs London and Pastorale - Boult of course. 50 plus years later Dave I am thrillled over the moon to learn of these new recordings. Ever many thanks!! p.s. sad to hear that Haitink is awful - could’ve been ignorance of youth but my favorite Planets was Haitink and LSO. And a dear pal of mine, tympani player, played under Haitink a few times, and has very very high regard for the way he worked and the results (I don’t recall what they played).

The Slatkin version was my first exposure to the Vaughn Williams symphonies. I managed to get the whole boxed set for just $5 used. The version I have is the original 1993/94 one. I've always been bothered by the sound quality on this one. What's so distracting is that it sounds there was not enough resolution to capture the wide dynamic range of the recording. This is especially noticeable in the very quiet passages where you can hear digital artifacts covering the instruments and ambience. This definetly needed 24 bit remastering. I'm aware that Sony released a number of budget box sets of remastered RCA recordings in the mini lp style packaging around the 2010s, such as the Slatkin box you have in this video. However I remember some controversy over these box sets as it was pointed out that Sony applied a lot dynamic compression and overly boosted the volume on many of these remastings, while zapping the impactfulness and clarity out of them. I always wondered how that Vaughn Williams/Slatkin box turned out. The original version definetly needed a higher resolution mastering but not at expense of it's dynamics. Does this new box set do the recordings any justice?

For me the most hilarious video. I just have one version of these symphonies, bought in the 80's and 90's - and it is Haitink - the worst !!! :) That time The Gramophone was my bible (no internet and international magazines are very expensive - have to choose just one - and I read the issues again and again while spend all my money with new CDs). Now I have to listen these works again with another conductor. That´s the problem with huge collections - some CDs are never listen again.

I request RVW's Ninth Symphony review - this is probably his most puzzling work which I just adore. Now I am listening to the mighty Finale and keep thinking Rautavaara must have been studying this work extensively.

Hello, David! Off-topic but I wonder if you come across such a composer as Wojciech Kilar? It seems that his academic output is completely uknown outside Poland (except for Orawa) but he did write some worthy stuff. It would be an interesting theme for one of your repertoire videos, of course, if you find his music good enough for discussion. I know Antoni Wit did almost all of his major works.

SPOT ON with the top two cycles. I have those exact ones. I also paired them with their versions of Holst-The Planets. Both VW and Holst were lifelong friends and classmates who, if I am correct, studied under Maurice Ravel. The styles of the two friends and classmates seem to feed off each other. Plus Adrian Boult knew both WV and Holst. So it's an interesting pairing I came up with there. Also spot on with Slatkin's version of the London Symphony, although played very well. The first movement felt like London in rush hour, with people rushing to and from work, not stopping to enjoy the beauty of London. The rest of the symphony wasn't too bad. There was still that English spirit that came through in the symphony.

Great video clip, Dave. One minor carp, though. The speaker in Previn's recording of the 7th Symphony (Sinfonia Antarctica) is Sir Ralph Richardson, NOT Sir John Gielgud.

Your English accent is great! You could have been a stand-in for Hitchcock!

A video about choral symphonies might be interesting. RVW, Berlioz, Holst, Beethoven, Shostakovich, Mahler, Sibelius.

No mention of the Tuba Concerto by Previn? it's magnificent! Otherwise Boult rules again.

Have you heard any of the Martyn Brabbins recordings on Hyperion?

Boult is no. 1 in my book. I also like very much the earlier DECCA/LONDON recordings. Please note that Barbirolli did a magnificent 2nd Symphony, a mesmeric 5th and a divine 8th. The latter Symphony Vaughan Williams dedicated to Glorious John

David-- Thanks for this edition. First it made me remember that I have #9 with Boult on Everest in my LP library and am listening to it now. Second, I agree that Slatkin's set is the most satisfying. I have complete sets from Boult #2, Haitink, Previn, Thomson, and Handley. Previn's suffers from its recording quality, although I think the London Symphony sounds better on my LP than on the CD. I think Previn's RCA releases recorded for RCA by Decca are all disappointing considering how good Decca's engineers were. Slatkin doesn't get as much credit as he should. He does a great job on VW, Copland, Barber, and others. By the way, I still like his Dad's Rhapsody in Blue best.

Slatkin's recordings of the Vaughan Williams symphonies was released in 1994. When he became the music director of my local orchestra, the NSO, in 1996, I expected he would play lots of Vaughn Williams. No such luck. During his 13 years as NSO music director, he programmed only one piece by Vaughn Williams (the fourth symphony). What a disappointment. RVW is one of my favorite composers. I go to all the concerts of his music I can get to (I once went to San Francisco to see a performance of his opera "The Pilgrims Progress") and I've only been able to hear live performances of five his symphonies (although I have sung "A Sea Symphony" twice.)

Dave, excuse me for interrupting your RV Williams critique, but I would like to interject by requesting you provide a review of another Williams, who deserves some attention: John Williams the film music composer. I am a big classical music nerd, much like you, but I find it hard to believe us classcial nerds would shun anything by John. His scores especially Star Wars really add drama to the movies and are great stand alone works. Can you suggest any noteworthy recordings worth the purchase?

The early digital recordings of Vernon Handley is just like David says. However his analog recording of the 2nd is excellent. Demonstration calibre. Try the EMI LP !!

I absolutely love the Slatkin/Philharmonia cycle...amazing performances and the right kind of energy...I have to differ with you about the first movement of the London Symphony, though! I like it the way Slatkin keeps it moving along...feels in keeping with the restlessness of a large city...great video, man! 👍

Have been listening to the Andrew Davis performances which are well played. However, they are dimly recorded. The Pastoral is especially bad with the sound disappearing in some places. Am I right, or am I losing my hearing?

Well, where do I turn in my Haitink set? :)) Even with the complete smackdown you gave it, I still found I liked the symphonies in that interpretation. They must be really good! :]

It’s so frustrating. I get all set to go find Slatkin and nothing is available for less than about $100. $250 in some places. Yet, Haitink is abundant.

What about the Melodiya Cycle? You missed it out. I love it, it’s really off the wall. I’d love to know what you think of the Russian approach to such an English composer. Great video otherwise 🎶❤️

Its a sobering thought but had RVW not survived wartime service in WW1 (he was an artilleryman in the last year of the war) we would just have the Sea Symphony and the "draft" version of the London Symphony.

I'm looking to buy my first VW box. I have a singleton of the Pastoral with something else. I never cared much for Chandos' sound.

Mr. Hurwitz, again many thanks for your superb review. I have to mention that I disagree on one point: The best version of Symphony No.2 (London Symphony) is the original 1913 version from Mr. Hickox (god bless him). I think it is much better than the reworked versions. Just listened to Boults version, yes Boult is marvelous but No.2 is owned by Hickox. The 1913 version makes much more sense IMO.

Thank you, Dave. I’m a huge RVW fan. I largely agree with your thoughts, though I admit that I do like some movements from the Haitink cycle, especially the last movement of the 9th, where Haitink’s spaciousness fits the remote, cosmic, mysteriously ethereal nature of the music. I agree that Slatkin London is too fast and that Previn’s is THE best. I also love Boult 2 and Davis. I don’t understand why Davis’s cycle is so neglected-it’s really excellent. I completely agree about the sound of the Thomson cycle, too. It really gets in the way of many good interpretations, though his 9th is too fast. Slatkin’s really does have the best orchestral playing and mostly the best interpretations, though there are a few movements that I prefer elsewhere. What do you think of Manze’s cycle? It is finished now. I noticed that you didn’t include it. As you say, it’s difficult for one interpreter to excell throughout, and I find his set to be variable, but not without some insights.

I just gave away my Haitink's box. You are indeed influential.😂

Thanks for this survey Dave! I have to say I much prefer Vaughan William's symphonies to Elgar's. In fact, the only British symphonists who come close in my opinion are Malcolm Arnold and George Lloyd (both of whom you have rightly championed but sadly remain far too little known). The only thing I might disagree with is that not all of Hickox's Vaughan William Symphonies were terrible (his 4th is one of the best IMO and I don't dislike his 3rd to the same degree that you do).

Hickox's cycle was completed by Sir Ansrew Davis for Chandos.

Stop beating around the bush. Come on man, tell us how you really feel! Should I get the Haitink set or should I skip it?

I know this is "off the wall," but would you please give a talk on Kingsway Hall? So many great performances were captured there in stunning, natural sound. I became enlightened about this place by listening to Klemperer recordings. Thanks.

I always (kind of) hold my breath during your reviews, hoping that you will assign good marks to the version I happen to own. I'm happy to say that I apparently chose well with this one. Slatkin was the director of our orchestra (Detroit) for several years, so I'm pleased when I hear good things about him.

I bought the Haitink. It was a few years ago. I'm sorry. I'll get the Boult and the Slatkin . I promise.

RVW was out of fashion during the 1960s and 70s. Happily he came back into fashion during the 80s when CDs and digital recordings appeared.

Hmm... Comments about the critics' reviews of Haitink might apply also to Celibidache in Bruckner - but he is allowed to get away with it! But I love this: I always thought Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 4 was "Godzilla eats Tokyo", if Tokyo were situated in the English countryside.

Over a lifetime of collecting lps and then cds, I haven't ditched many because tastes alter over time and performances you originally wrote off you suddenly 'get'. But after years of trying to understand what G magazine's reviewers found in Haitink's Sea Symphony, I gave up and gifted it to our local library. Back in '71 a friend of mine got a summer job working as a sort of dogsbody for the LSO, which meant he got to sit in on rehearsals under both Previn and Boult. His comments on the styles of both were what you'd probably expect, Boult calm and rather under-stated, Previn always on show. For years, Previn's VW5 was a desert island disc for me, the pianissimo he achieves at the close of the last movement incredibly delicate. Returning to it, I find the recording rather constricted.

It would be nice if you once said "What I consider the best...whatever" and not feel that you are so categorically right. Tastes, do differ you know...

I was very dissapointed in the Haitink cycle. I have & love the Boult, Previn & Slatkin sets. Previn’s Antartica is the best, bar none!

But what about Havergal Brian?

Ralph Richardson spoke the Superscriptions on RVW 7/Previn/LSO. Not John Gielgud. Though, he'd have been good too.

Curse you! I was always happy enough with my Haitink box but I just gave the 5th a listen and you're dead right it lacks on performance and sound quality. My only other copies of the 5th are Previn and Andrew Manze with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic - that's a nice sound, a little restrained in the performance but better than Haitink (I appreciate that's not a full set, at least yet).

You are so right about English critics. I noticed their bias decades ago when there were artists that could not do wrong, and others that could not do right.

If only one of my best classical music loving friends were still alive, he would have eaten up your discussion of RVW symphonies! He was a member of the Vaughan Williams Society and really introduced me to the composer, though I already had a recording of one work, Ninth Symphony with Boult on Everest you discussed. Otherwise for me it’s Andrew Davis for 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9; Slatkin for 3, 4, 8 (preceded by the appropriate Fanfare for Glorious John), and 9 again; Boult for 7 along with the fun suite from the Wasps; and Previn (RCA) for 5 again with the wonderful Tuba Concerto. I’ll have to confess that I also have Haitink’s 1 and Hickox’s “original” 2, but agree with you on their merits or lack thereof!

It's about time a non-British orchestra had a crack at these symphonies on record. Re. your point about British critics gushing over Haitink, it's notable how sniffy they are about Slatkin. Maybe because he was American rather than European and was a bit abrasive at times?

Of course I have the Haitink! LOL

Great British accent though you sound a bit more like Sir Thomas than Sir Adrian.

I think the best cycle should go as last one, not the first in the adventure of discovering this pieces ...don’t you think Dave?

And ... the Slatkin cycle has disappeared again.

Have to disagree with you about the Slatkin. I bought this set many years ago, sampled a few tracks, put it aside and haven't touched it since. Intrigued by your remarks I just got the set out, played the Toccata of the 8th and realized why I hated it so much. For one, the dynamics are just too great. Set the volume for the climaxes and much of the rest is just background waffle with most of the detail missing. The percussion also sounds like a couple of kids got into the pots and pans. Compare this with Previn's punchy version, where not a detail is missed (despite the deteriorated sound). Best compromise is almost certainly Kees Bakel on Naxos, though this is not from a boxed set. Also disagree about Previn's 9th, which to me is definitive. Just goes to show, one man's hearty meal is another man's steaming pile of....well, we won't go there.

Hickox did 1 to 6 plus 8. Andrew Dsvies very kindly did 7 and 9 and Job.

For a really awful box set of the VW symphonies, listen to Gennady Rozhdestvensky conducting all 9 symphonies in live concerts with various choirs and soloist and The state symphony orchestra of USSR Ministry of culture. So bad its embarrassing.

Your comments on the Haitink box reflect beautifully my feelings about the conductor's recordings generally.

Ooh, foreign conductor, English orchestra, bad combination! Just listen to Bernstein’s Enigma variations, pretty average performance, then he decides to conduct a version of Nimrod that is slower than his version of Saint-Saens’s Tortoises!

Is there actually an exciting Bernard Haitink record?

The amazing thing about Vaughan-Williams is who didn't record him. Not Bernstein, Ormandy, Szell, Jarvi, Blomstedt, Mackerras...

Yep. Slatkin is my top pick. Nobody believes that it's good.

Lol. Tell you what - you leave Richardson, Fiennes and Vaughan Williams alone and we won't moan too much about say Colin Powell or Denzel Washington.

Eww and I thought Dick van Dyke's English accent was bad 🤣

You hit the nail on Haitink's. I normally adore his work, but his Vaughan Williams set is boring and poorly recorded - flat sound.

You're right about Haitink's Vaughn Williams. But I also feel that way about his Mahler and Shostakovich. He always seems to get it wrong, IMO.

Mate, can you say something in Australian accent next time?