Wolfgang Sawallisch, the Philadelphia Orchestra. Richard Strauss, "Festival Prelude," Opus 61, "Till Eulenspiegel," Opus 28, "Sinfonia Domestica," Opus 53 (EMI Classics. 55185-2, DDD; recorded live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo)
Wolfgang Sawallisch has always been a great interpreter of the scores of Richard Strauss, and this live recording is even better than his studio efforts.
Sawallisch seems able to combine the Ormandy string sound with the muscle of Muti, and under his direction the Philadelphia plays all three works on this disc to perfection. The massive pipe organ in the "Festival Prelude" is awe-inspiring. "Till Eulenspiegel" has many fine recordings, and this one can stand up to all of them. The "Sinfonia Domestica" can be a little boring if the orchestra is not up to its challenges, but no problem here: The Philadelphia plays with European sensitivity and American brilliance.
This is a very exciting recording that those who heard the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Meyerhoff this November will want to own.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult conducting the Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 9 in E minor; Malcolm Arnold conducting the Malcolm Arnold Symphony No. 3 (Everest. EVC 9001, AAD)
Everest was a label that had a treasure trove of great recordings at budget price on some of the worst record pressings in the history of recorded music. Their transfer to CD is like removing the grit and grime from a Renaissance masterpiece. The sound is full, and the dynamic range of the recording is given its studio glory.
The recording of the Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 9 was recorded hours after the death of the composer. Listeners who know Sir Adrian Boult's later recording (for Angel) will be blown away by this version. The playing is much more gripping, and the sense of ominous death in the chilling final movement is hair-raising. Vaughan Williams' last symphony contains the finest saxophone use in any orchestral work. The brassy reed tone is given haunting solos and is perfectly integrated into the orchestral fabric.
This version of the Ninth Symphony is the best on the market today, but the filler is not up to the artistic level of the Vaughan Williams' work. Malcolm Arnold is a skillful orchestrator but not good at constructing large symphonic movements. For top-drawer Arnold, listen to his "English Dance."
