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The projected complete cycle of Vaughan Williams's
symphonies started by the late Richard Hickox has left a
precious heritage in the discography of the composer.
Now, conducting the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra,
another great authority in British repertoire, Sir Andrew
Davis, takes on the challenge of completing the series
with idiomatic interpretations of two masterpieces: the
final Symphony (No. 9) and the ballet Job.
The score of Job places an emphasis on tableau-like
scenes, dances, and mime, linking it to a tradition of
English ballet with dances from the seventeenth century,
including the saraband, pavane, and galliard. In this
masterly score, Vaughan Williams captures the conflict
between good and evil, between the spiritual and the
material. Job shows a strength, beauty, nobility, and
visionary power which unite the many different facets of
Vaughan Williams's musical style. The poignant and
musically enigmatic Symphony No. 9 marks 'the end of
Ralph's life and [is] a turning point. It is leading out into
another place. It is extraordinary', as the composer's
wife stated after one of the early performances.
The subtle direction of Sir Andrew Davis combined with
the pure sound quality of this SACD does full justice to
Hickox's great enterprise and promises a powerful
conclusion of this already acclaimed recorded cycle.
1.Job: Scene 1: Introduction - Pastoral Dance - Satan's Appeal to God.05:33
2.Job: Scene 1: Sarabande of the Sons of God.03:43
3.Job: Scene 2: Satan's Dance of Triumph.03:18
4.Job: Scene 3: Minuet of the Sons of Job and Their Wives.04:10
5.Job: Scene 4: Job's Dream. Dance of Plague, Pestilence, Famine and Battle.03:54
6.Job: Scene 5: Dance of the Messengers.04:44
7.Job: Scene 6: Dance of Job's Comforters. Job's Curse. A Vision of Satan.04:48
8.Job: Scene 7: Elihu's Dance of Youth and Beauty.03:57
9.Job: Scene 7: Pavane of the Sons of the Morning.01:50
10.Job: Scene 8: Galliard of the Sons of Morning.02:20
11.Job: Scene 8: Altar Dance.02:28
12.Job: Scene 9: Epilogue.03:05
13.Symphony No. 9 in E Minor: I. Moderato maestoso.09:06
14.Symphony No. 9 in E Minor: II. Andante sostenuto.07:39
15.Symphony No. 9 in E Minor: III. Scherzo: Allegro pesante.05:39 |
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