Vaughan Williams

When all the world dissolves,
And every creature shall be purified,
All places shall be hell that are not heaven.
(Christopher Marlowe, Faustus)

I’ve just returned from the first concert in the Philharmonia’s Vaughan Williams cycle at the Royal Festival Hall. This evening, it was the Sinfonia Antartica and the Sea Symphony, with Susan Gritton and Gerald Finley very fine soloists, with the London Symphony Chorus singing splendidly. The Sinfonia Antartica is a work I don’t really know that well, but I was rather bowled over by it – Hickox got some superb playing from the orchestra and the off-stage chorus and soloist (Gritton) were placed just right. I have got the Chandos recording of the original Scott of the Antarctic film score and am amazed at how well No.7 holds together as a symphony. The Sea Symphony is a work I’ve always had a bit of a problem with beyond the opening crash of waves – to me, it doesn’t really feel like a symphony. The performance tonight was vivid, and I particularly liked the beautiful orchestral close to the second movement, but I prefer Antartica as a symphony. I thought the turnout was a bit disappointing and hope more people turn out for the other concerts – Nos. 8 and 2 (original version of the London) next week.

I did enjoy a chuckle when, after the Sinfonia Antartica had ended, Hickox gestured towards the door at the back to call Susan Gritton forward and the percussionist operating the wind machine thought it was for him, so got to his feet, much to the amusement of his colleagues!

Tags: concerts, london, philharmonia, richard hickox, royal festival hall, sea symphony, sinfonia antartica, susan gritton, vaughan williams