Symphony No. 5 / Ralph Vaughan Williams / Vasily Petrenko / Oslo Philharmonic 

One of the top level interpretations of the last twenty years or so. The stratospheric play of the strings, with some strong brass moments, all the way through well judged tempi, create a lush atmosphere. Add to this solid, precise playing (there is not one single wrong note) and you get one of the finest Fifth since the days of Boult, Previn and Barbirolli -- or more recently Manze perhaps. The last movement 'Passacaglia' brings solace as it should and the last few minutes from it have a comforting pastoral tone which is at once beautiful and appropriate. Congrats to everyone in the orchestra and to Mr Petrenko for some great RVW, imho. I urge you to listen to their Korngold Violin Cto, from January, equally impressive in its own right (like me, you'll probably be impressed by the strange melodic beauties of that magnificent work). Superb recorded sound, as heard in 1080p through high quality stereo amp and speakers.

The final 4 minutes are one of the most magical endings in the symphonic repertoire and it's a marvellous performance here.

We Brits are always a bit chuffed when foreigners have a go at Vaughan Williams and Elgar and er, especially when they do it as well as this.

Vasily Petrenko's conducting is absolutely stupefying. Congratulations to all Oslo musicians for this beautiful performance as well! Thank you for this.

It's always a pleasure to see this great orchestra, as well as seeing maestro Petrenko conducting with his brilliant expressiveness!!! I think we're not entirely aware of how lucky we are to be able to see and listen to such beautiful music free from home, especially this music so well performed and produced... Wonderful!!

A wonderful performance by Petrenko and the Oslo PO. Beautifully paced and with a profound understanding of the emotional heart of this fine symphony.

The romanza at 18:12 is just so beautiful!

I have never listened to this Symphony before. Fantastic Symphony! Amazing, gorgeous performance! Vasily Petrenko is the best Conductor ever!!!!Great orchestra! Magic rendition of the symphony! Thanks for amazing opportunity to listen to such a great concert for free here!

"Dedicated without permission to Jean Sibelius". A beautiful performance.

So beautifully played. I'm weeping.

One of the wonders of the 20th century from its darkest hours, done to perfection.

That end is god send

A very fine performance, fully and faithfully realising VW's beautiful score.

I love this symphony and this is a wonderful performance. The shimmering string chords and haunting English Horn solo in the third movement are absolutely terrific. Thank you for posting this for us to enjoy.

What a beautiful gift! The dark days of Covid and yet a musical moment of pure joy is played, not for a live audience, but for everyone separated by the pandemic. Thank you to everyone involved in recording this beautiful performance of a beautiful composition. It continues to inspire and comfort.

Absolutely gorgeous ❤

What a symphony of hope for our time during the current pandemic. Originally premiered in London in 1943 in the daylight hours because of the oncoming night time blackout during the Blitz, Ralph Vaughan William's 5th Symphony in D Major provided a calming reassurance during an uncertain time when World War II was being waged in the balance. God willing, may the war against the deadly Covid Virus and its various mutations reach a similar conclusion.

My favorite piece. Performed expertly with precision and great care. Excellent audio/visual as well. Thank you for sharing this.

Here is a marvelously cohesive and beautifully played performance of this serenely beautiful work! In fact, it's the best performance I ever heard of this symphony. Maestro Vasily Petrenko, no relation to that man in Berlin, is one of our greatest musicians and conductors.

Amazing performance.

RVW is much too rarely played. The 5th is perhaps my favourite symphony of him. This was an excellent performance. Thank you!

Stunning and spectacular performance. Thank you for providing inspiration in troubled times.

Magnífica interpretación de una música espléndida en su conjunto. Gracias por compartirla

Bellísima Sinfonía!!! Gracias por compartirla! :)

Спасибо , оркестр , Петренко!!! Thanks.

This is a hauntingly beautiful symphony. Marvelously played and conducted. Outstanding performance. Thank you so much for uploading this for all to enjoy.

Lovely performance of a great work 👏👏👏

Excellent performance,as always from this source!!!!!!!

Brilliant music, brilliantly played.

Magnífica interpretación !!!!!

Beautiful performance. Thanks.

EXCELENTE!!!! FELICITACIONES.

Ĝorgeous. Stunning.

Magnificent. Thanks for posting.

Gorgeous, but do yourself a favour and listen to the Frankfurt Radio Symphony version with Sir Andrew Davis. Sublime.

Belíssima performance!👏🙋🇧🇷

참 좋습니다(very good)!

great

Very very fine. The Oslo Philharmonic turns out to be the perfect band for this piece No lost-in-the-lushness here, but refined playing that delivers on Petrenko's concept. Well done.

Thank you for a wonderful performance of this great symphony.I was reminded of Previn's justly famous recording on R.C.A.

I would purchase this performance on cd or digital. It really is among the great performances of this piece.

Don't know the Oslo. But they have worked hard for that sound. And they must have worked hard to apply it RVW's to 5th Symphony. Flawless can be a low bar. Flawless with Soul is a high bar. They made it over. Let's hear a recording of the 5th forebear and mate the 3rd Symphony!

I love it ❤️

From what I have heard it's really hard for the orchestra to play 'distanced' - not two fiddles to a desk etc. And of course there's no audience either, so the performance falls off a cliff in terms of response, too.

Em 'pianissimo' não se ouve a contento! Precisa 'microfonar' melhor os naipes!...

And this is written during the worst of WW II. Keep calm and carry on, indeed. The Germans were never going to get that island. Not with this sort of spirit abroad in the land.

And to think one critic said RVW's music was a cow looking over a gate. None so deaf as those who....

Vassily Petrenko is such an authoritative leader/artist that to have him and young Mäkelä is the proper course of action on behalf of the orchestra. They are so serious and dedicated, reflecting personal and orchestra's rightful high artistic aspirations. History in the making.