Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Andrew Manze - Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphonies No. 2 & No. 8 (2016) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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01. Symphony No. 2 in G "A London Symphony" I. Lento – Allegro risoluto (molto pesante)
02. Symphony No. 2 in G "A London Symphony" II. Lento
03. Symphony No. 2 in G "A London Symphony" III. Scherzo (Nocturne)-Allegro vivace
04. Symphony No. 2 in G "A London Symphony" IV. Andante con moto – Maestoso alla Marcia (quasi lento) – Allegro – Maestoso alla Marcia (alla I) – Epilogue (Andante sostenuto)
05. Symphony No. 8 in D Minor I. Fantasia (Variazioni senza tema)
06. Symphony No. 8 in D Minor II. Scherzo alla marcia (per strumenti a fiato). Allegro alla marcia
07. Symphony No. 8 in D Minor III. Cavatina (per strumenti ad arco). Lento espressivo
08. Symphony No. 8 in D Minor IV. Toccata. Moderato maestoso

Andrew Manze has established himself as one of the leading interpreters of Vaughan Williams Symphonies. His 2012 BBC Proms performances drew critical acclaim, and were highlights of that season's Proms. ONYX Classics will release one volume a year, completing the cycle in the spring of 2019 with Symphonies 7&9. It was RWV’s friend and fellow composer George Butterworth who in 1912 suggested he write a purely orchestral symphony. RVW told him he had absolutely no plans to do so, but Butterworth was a very perceptive friend and colleague, and the premiere took place in 1914. Called ‘A London Symphony’ (RVW considered himself a Londoner), RVW thought a better title would be ‘A Symphony by a Londoner’. On New Year’s Eve that year RVW joined the army and went to the trenches in France. Butterworth would be killed by a sniper at the Somme in 1916. The 8th Symphony of 1955 is a tightly written, brilliant and innovative work that shows RVW’s creativity at full stretch. Although outwardly a sunny work, shadows of the 6th and 7th symphonies lurk in the background at points throughout this brilliant symphony.

Next in the RVW Symphony cycle from Andrew Manze and the RLPO will be Symphonies 3 & 4 [ONYX4161] to be released in March 2017.

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