Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music; The Lark Ascending; Fantasia on Greensleeves; English Folk Song Suite; In the Fen Country; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1

Customer Rating:
Summary: Voughn Williams Lark Acending
Comment: Not quite what I expected and not as good as I had hopped for.
My Fault - not theirs

Customer Rating:
Summary: absolutely wonderful
Comment: Many have already reviewed this CD very positively, so just a brief word. This is probably the most attractive intro. you could have to Vaughan Williams - all the works, whether well known or not so well known, are most beautiful, the recording is excellent and the performances under Boult, who knew exactly how to get the beauty and the poetry out of Volkswagen without losing sight of the structure, could not be better. You just can't go wrong - it's a glorious CD.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Vaughan Williams
Comment: Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music; The Lark Ascending; Fantasia on Greensleeves; English Folk Song Suite; In the Fen Country; Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1

While this is a re-issue of a 1969 recording it is an excellent presentation by conductor Sir. Adrian Boult.

Customer Rating:
Summary: My Fortunate Discovery
Comment: Prior to this CD, I have never owned a Vaughan Williams recording. I had heard of him through a friend of mine who was a big opera and Broadway musical buff in the early 1990's and I assumed he was of the latter. Ted Libbey had recommended "The Lark Ascending" as a potential funeral memorial piece and I was curious and listened to the teaser 30 second spot on Amazon. It was intriguing enough so I bought it.

After listening to it twice (in a row!), I must say that it is very appealing. Symphonically, it has rich sound and there are many beautiful serene passages. I very much like the "Serenade to Music." The voices are soaring and beautiful. In addition, the "English Folk Song Suite" and the other remain pieces are also very engaging. Boult conducts with tenderness and conviction. Libbey is right, "The Lark Ascending" has star quality as a memorial or simply a beautiful lifting and reflective symphonic movement. The mind can imagine the bird rising free into the air and Hugh Bean's violin takes you there.

This CD is a total turn on and I look forward to hearing more Vaughan Williams!

Customer Rating:
Summary: Definitive Vaughn Williams Masterworks
Comment: These are the definitive, reference performances and recordings of Lark Ascending and Serenade to Music that I keep coming back to. The best of these Vaughn Williams masterworks.