Richard Hickox - Ralph Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony

180g Vinyl Reissue Of World Premiere Recording of Vaughan Williams' A London Symphony! Since Chandos began releasing vinyl pressings again in 2013, Vaughan Williams' A London Symphony is their second LP release. The distinguished recording of Vaughan Williams' original 1913 version of A London Symphony is performed by The London Symphony lead by Richard Hickox. The performance was met with universal critical acclaim upon initial release, being 'destined for classic status', according to Gramophone. The Banks of Green Willow is a sensuous work which incorporates two folk songs that Butterworth had collected in 1907. It was he who first suggested to Vaughan Williams that he should write an orchestral symphony and, after the tragic death of Butterworth, Vaughan Williams dedicated A London Symphony to his memory. The work was first performed at the Queen's Hall in London in 1914, and, as on this LP, was programmed after The Banks of Green Willow. Following the loss of the full score in 1914 it was reconstructed from the orchestral parts. Vaughan Williams then revised the symphony three times: in 1918, 1920, and 1933, and the well-known 'Revised Edition' was published in the mid-1930s. The original version, heard here, contains about twenty minutes of music not included in the familiar final version, among it (according to Bernard Herrmann) some of 'the most original poetic moments in the entire symphony'. This recording remains the only one of the original 1913 version of A London Symphony. Features: • 180g Vinyl Musicians: London Symphony Orchestra Gordan Nikolitch, leader Richard Hickox, conductor Selections: Side A: George Butterworth (1885-1916) The Banks of Green Willow 1. Idyll Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2) Original 1913 Version (World Premiere Recording) 2. I. Lento - Allegro risoluto 3. II. Lento Side B: 4. III. Scherzo (Nocturne). Allegro vivace - Andantino 5. IV. Andante con moto - Maestoso alla marcia (quasi lento) - Allegro - Andantino ma sostenuto - Tempo I - Allegro - Lento - Epilogue. Andante sostenuto - Lento