Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.5 & Symphony No.6 Royal Liverpool Philarmonic Orchestra & Andrew Manze

• Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958): Symphony No. 5 in D:
• 1 Preludio. I. Preludio. Moderato – Allegro 11:00
• 2 II. Scherzo. Presto 04:53
• 3 III. Romanza. Lento 11:58
• 4 IV. Passacaglia. Moderato – Allegro 09:41
• Symphony No. 6 in E Minor:
• 5 I. Allegro 07:09
• 6 II. Moderato 09:29
• 7 III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace 05:54
• 8 IV. Epilogue. Moderato 10:03
• Total Runtime 01:10:07

Info for Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.5 & Symphony No.6

Andrew Manze’s interpretations of Vaughan Williams’ Symphonies have been met with acclaim from audiences and critics alike. This third album in the series contains two masterpieces. The 5th Symphony of 1943 displaying a ‘greatness of soul’ as one commentator at the time wrote, draws on material for ‘The Pilgrims Progress’ from 1906. The 6th Symphony of 1944-7 stunned the audience at its premiere – some tried to explain the works last movement as depicting a nuclear wasteland. RVW denied it was a war symphony, renewing the questions asked about the 4th: why did he write such another such violent work, and what did it mean? The composer, shocked by the nuclear wasteland talk commented ‘we can get in words nearest to the substance of my last movement in “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded by a sleep” from “The Tempest”

“… Both works, outwardly so different, are beautifully played by the Liverpool orchestra. The violence and menace of No 6 strike you forcibly, in performance and in recording, as does No 5’s healing serenity.” (David Cairns, The Sunday Times)

Royal Liverpool Philarmonic Orchestra
Andrew Manze, conductor

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Booklet for Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.5 & Symphony No.6