Search - New York Philharmonic, Richard Tucker, Eileen Farrell :: THE ROYAL EDITION - Vaughan Williams: Symphony 4 / Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis / Fantasia on 'Greensleeves' / Serenade to Music

RVW's 4th

James Shiver | Lakeland, FL United States | 01/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bernstein's slower tempos are a hindrance to some pieces, but not here. The tempo is a bit slower than is normally heard; it is certainly slower than that used by the composer himself in his recording which, by the way, is the finest, most electric recording of this symphony ever made. Bernstein's approach, however, allows a welcome discovery of the music.
The fantasias are very well performed. Listening to the Tallis Fantasia, one really gets a sense of being in a great English cathedral, which was RVW's intention.
The last piece on the cd, the Serenade to Music, is one of the most transcendentally beautiful pieces of music ever written. The tender melodies are wrapped in silky, sweet harmonies that are all but irresistable. It is said that, at the Serenade's premier, Russian composer Sergey Rachmaninov was reduced to tears by the music.Highly recommended."