Vaughan Williams: Job / Symphony No. 9

 
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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Vaughan Williams: Job / Symphony No. 9
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis

[ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD ]

Release Date: Friday 10 February 2017

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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.

"It's time to sum up this disc. Sir Andrew's new version of Job is a fine achievement and in terms of recorded sound it has to be the finest on the market. It's also superbly played. There are a few points where Vernon Handley still has the interpretative edge as far as I'm concerned but his recording, though it sounds remarkably good for its age, can't compete with the marvellous SACD sound that Chandos provide for Davis. Ralph Couzens, assisted by Gunnar Herleif Nilsen, has engineered the recording superbly. On sonic grounds Davis 2 trumps Davis 1 and where there are points of difference in the interpretation the newcomer is to be preferred every time. The same comments apply to his two recordings of the Ninth Symphony. A mandatory purchase for all Vaughan Williams enthusiasts." Recording of the Month MusicWeb

"a performance of striking composure, lustre and palpable dedication. Not only do the Bergen Philharmonic respond with notable poise and eagerness (solo contributions are of the highest quality throughout), Davis conducts with unobtrusive authority as well as a sure hand on the structural tiller, uncovering a wealth of telling harmonic and textural detail along the way." Gramophone Editor's Choice March 2017

'Andrew Davis's journey through the sequence is quite briskly paced, but never in a way that's perfunctory. He also gets a superlative response from the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.' recording of the Month BBC Music April 2017

BBC Music Magazine Awards 2018 Finalist - Orchestral

"a searing performance of the enigmatic ninth symphony…Even better, though, is Job: a tremendous, Blake-inspired score whose challenges are triumphantly met here. It is one of Vaughan Williams' most dramatic works and the sheer power of the Bergen forces (that organ!) contrast perfectly with sections of great textual beauty. Superb SACD sound" ClassicalMusic Five Stars

Tracks:

Job (A Masque for Dancing)
Symphony No.9 in E minor