Vaughan Williams was the foremost English composer of the first half of the twentieth century. Strongly influenced by the English folksong he collected, Vaughan Williams’s music is strongly individual, yet owes something to the French style of Ravel and Debussy. The wide range of orchestral colour, visionary quality and power achieved in his music represents the essence of ‘Englishness’.

Here we have a veritable treasure trove of the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, including the ebullient Overture to The Wasps.

The Lark Ascending is the composer at his calmly lyrical best, and Michael Davis’s performance of the solo violin part is simply beautiful.

Those with a fondness for the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams are likely to have heard at least a few of these pieces before, and those familiar with the performing scene in England will probably recognise the name of Vernon Handley. If you belong to neither group, these extraordinarily satisfying performances will almost certainly make you a convert to the former and a loyal new follower of this distinguished conductor.

The Wasps overture – a rich reading more apt to summon up images of honey bees than wasps
The performances are excellent.


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