Leonard Slatkin - Barber, Vaughan Williams, Pachelbel, Tchaikovsky, Grainger (1981, 1982) [2004 SACD]

A wide assortment of some of the favorite pieces for string orchestra. Although all the Telarc Soundstream SACDs are now out of print, this one remains the rarest.
Review from John Philips at Musicweb
Here is a bargain and a half! This is another Telarc disc, re-issuing two previously available CDs. The new disc is released in SACD format. The music is recorded in spectacular sound and superbly performed.
Telarc is well known for audio excellence, and rarely, if ever, have I seen a negative review of one of their products in this respect. And so it is here with a recording that cannot be faulted. As far as performances go, do not be put off by the name Leonard Slatkin. These recordings were made well before Slatkin’s disastrous tenure with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, now thankfully at an end. He made a number of superlative recordings with the St. Louis band on RCA, Telarc and Vanguard, but of these three, the recording quality was always best with Telarc.
The Vaughan Williams items, particularly the Tallis Fantasia, sound just right, reinforcing the conductor’s high reputation in English music. Listening to this disc, one would not immediately pick it as being by American performers, there being little gloss to the playing with a superior acoustic.
The Samuel Barber makes its customary impact, although not quite replacing Bernstein’s performance on DG.
The other small items on the disc, Fauré, Pachelbel, and Grainger, are exceedingly good, with the orchestra sounding particularly well, eclipsing or at least equalling most competitive versions.


Tracks:

01. Ralph Vaughan Williams– Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis 15:33
02. Samuel Barber– Adagio For Strings 7:30
03. Gabriel Fauré– Pavane, Op. 50 5:41
04. Ralph Vaughan Williams– Fantasia On Greensleeves 4:27
05. Johann Pachelbel– Kanon 6:08
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Serenade In C For Strings, Op 48
06. – I. Peyyo In Forma Di Sonatina Andante Non Troppo 9:30
07. – II. Walyer Moderato. Tempo Di Valse 3:34
08. – III. Élégie Larghetto Elegiaco 8:23
09. – IV. Finale (Tema Russo) Andante Allegro Con Spirito 7:22
10. Percy Grainger– Irish Tune From County Derry (Danny Boy) 6:18


Personnel:

Conductor – Leonard Slatkin
Orchestra – Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra