Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5

Album review

This is undoubtedly one of the cornerstones of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ symphonic discography, a British composer who was irrefutably at the peak of his creativity here. His Symphony No. 5 (1938-1943) remains one of the greatest symphonies of the 20th century. Inspired by themes previously considered for his oratorio The Pilgrim’s Progress, Vaughan Williams created a perfectly structured work that was simultaneously dense, majestic and irresistibly fluid, all while incorporating the various expressive tendencies he was known for. It features both dense and sensual lyricism (for example, the sublime Romanza) as well as more tempestuous tones (for example, the unforgettable Scherzo, which is one of the most exciting extracts from the composer's symphonic corpus).

By the early 1960s, Sir John Barbirolli had established himself as a key interpreter of Vaughan Williams, and his renditions would set the standard for years to come (despite extraordinary competition from Bryden Thomson): never before had the final coda reached such poignant and poetic levels. As for the Romanza, the conductor employs phrasing that—unfortunately perhaps—brings a tear to the eye. This is an incredible rendition that’s as beautiful and tender as a warm embrace. A must-listen for any music lover. © Pierre-Yves Lascar/Qobuz