Customer Reviews

Vaughan Williams: Vocal Works - By: , 22 Jul 2003
This is a splendid disc! The Serenade to Music is performedin its original version for soloists which is quite different (better?) than the subsequent choral version. The soloists present a marvellous account & the orchestral textures provide a ravishing counterpoint. Of particular note is the violin solo at the beginning which ably sets the scene for this account.
The Mystical Songs (text by George Herbert) are wonderfully sung by Thomas Allen & yet again are accompanied with great sensitivity & skill. The orchestral texturein Love bade me welcome is particularly fine as is Allen's performance which captures the tentative steps of the narrator into relationship with the Divine with an understated passion.
Nabuko Imai's Viola Solo at the beginning of Flos Campi is also worthy of note & sets the essentially 'Pastoral' feel of the piece although the anonymous Oboe solo is also wonderfully executed.
Lastly, the fantasy on Christmas Carols is well worth listening to & forms the very pleasant end to a marvellous disk. No enthusiast of English music should be without it!