Donald Macleod and conductor Martyn Brabbins explore Vaughan Williams' Symphonies.

In the week of the 150th anniversary of Vaughan Williams' birth, Donald Macleod revisits a series of conversations he recorded earlier in the year with leading authorities on the composer. Each day he explores a new area of Vaughan Williams' life and music; shedding light on his central role in Britain's musical story, his posthumous impact and how we respond to him today. Part of Radio 3’s ongoing season, “Vaughan Williams’ Today”, marking the composer's 150th anniversary year.

Today, Donald is joined by conductor Martyn Brabbins to explore the many worlds of Vaughan Williams’ 9 Symphonies – from his epic first “A Sea Symphony” to his enigmatic, drifting final work in the form – the 9th.

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no. 2 “A London Symphony” – IV. Andante con moto (excerpt)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no. 7 “Sinfonia Antartica” - V. Epilogue (excerpt)
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Andrew Davis (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no.1 “A Sea Symphony” - I. A Song for all Sea, all Ships (excerpt)
Katherine Broderick (soprano)
Roderick Williams (baritone)
Hallé Orchestra and Choir,
Hallé Youth Choir
Schola Cantorum of Oxford
Ad Solem
Sir Mark Elder (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no 9 in E minor – IV. Andante tranquillo – poco animato (excerpt)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Davis (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no.5 in D major – III. Romanza (excerpt)
American Symphony Orchestra
Leon Botstein (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no.5 in D major – I. Preludio
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no 6 in E minor – III. Scherzo (excerpt)
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Neville Marriner (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no. 4 in F minor – I. Allegro (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra
Andre Previn (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no.1 ‘A Sea Symphony’ - I. A Song for all Sea, all Ships (excerpt)
Katherine Broderick (soprano)
Roderick Williams (baritone)
Hallé Orchestra and Choir,
Hallé Youth Choir
Schola Cantorum of Oxford
Ad Solem
Sir Mark Elder (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no. 6 in E minor- IV. Epilogue
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Adrian Boult (conductor)

Vaughan Williams
Symphony no. 8 in D minor – IV. Toccata
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Vladimir Jurowski (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips Show less