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Donald Macleod explores Vaughan Williams’s romantic life and the echoes of it in his music.

Ralph Vaughan Williams is one of Britain’s most loved composers, and best-known symphonists, writing nine symphonies that span almost 50 years of his career. These works evoke a wide range of moods, each creating its own unique world, from his first stormy choral symphony, through the aggressive and the tranquil, to his final enigmatic, haunting Ninth. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod delves into the life and work of Vaughan Williams - a man who helped forge a new identity for English music in the 20th century - paying special attention to the symphonies. Vaughan Williams wrote many works or movements of works with the title β€œromance” In Thursday’s episode, Donald explores Vaughan Williams’s own romantic life, and we’ll be hearing from, among other works, his Fifth Symphony.

Romance
Larry Adler (harmonica)
Eric Gritton (piano)
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Symphony Orchestra
Sir Malcolm Sargent (conductor)

Four Last Songs – Tired
Roderick Williams (baritone)
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Andrew Davis (conductor)

Flos Campi - VI. Pone me ut signaculum super cor tuum
Teng Li (viola)
Elmer Iseler Singers
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Peter Oundjian (conductor)

Symphony No 5 - IV. Passacaglia
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Manze (conductor)

String Quartet No 2 - II. Romance
Medici Quartet

Toward the Unknown Region
Waynflete Singers
Winchester Cathedral Choir
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
David Hill (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Romance

    Performer: Larry Adler. Performer: Eric Gritton. Orchestra: ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Sargent.
    • EMI : CDM 764-134-2.
    • EMI.
    • 11.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    4 Last Songs (No 2, Tired)

    Singer: Roderick Williams. Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Chandos : CHSA 5186.
    • Chandos.
    • 7.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Flos Campi (VI, Pone me ut signaculum super cor tuum)

    Performer: Teng Li. Choir: Elmer Iseler Singers. Orchestra: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Peter Oundjian.
    • Chandos CHSA 5201.
    • Chandos.
    • 10.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No 5 in D major (4th mvt, Passacaglia)

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • ONYX : ONYX-4184.
    • ONYX.
    • 4.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    String Quartet No 2 in A minor (2nd mvt, Romance)

    Ensemble: Medici String Quartet.
    • NIMBUS: NI5191.
    • NIMBUS.
    • 10.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Toward the Unknown Region

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Choir: Winchester Cathedral Choir. Choir: Waynflete Singers. Conductor: David Hill.
    • ARGO : 4361202-2.
    • ARGO.
    • 2.

Broadcast

  • Thu 11 Feb 2021 12:00

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