This page lists all recordings of Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony', by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) on CD. Generally, more recent CDs are listed first, but with priority given to items that are in stock. Despite this being Vaughan Williams’ first symphony, it is nonetheless on an epic scale, with soprano and baritone soloists and a full chorus. Vaughan Williams began work on it when he was 31, and conducted the première on his 38th birthday. Such was its success that Vaughan Williams, on the strength of this piece, became hailed as the leading figure in the post-Elgar generation. The work contains settings of the poems of Walt Whitman, and encompasses a huge range of musical experiences, from the visionary full chorus opening through the buoyant and virtuosic description of the wind and the waves to the mystical baritone solo of the nocturne. This symphony is not only descriptive of the sea in its many forms but also uses the sea as "a metaphor for a voyage into eternity". |
All recordingsPrices shown exclude VAT. (UK tax is not payable for deliveries to United States.)
See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Vaughan Williams - A Sea Symphony & Hodie
Margaret Marshall, Stephen Roberts, Elizabeth Gale & Robert Tear London Symphony Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra, Choristers of St Paul’s Cathedral & London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox “Early performances by this much-missed conductor, the Sea Symphony splendidly vivid and boisterous but marred by the underpowered baritone and shrill soprano.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2010 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Susan Gritton (soprano) & Gerald Finley (baritone) London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Richard Hickox live recording "Gritton’s fearless and star-bright soprano waved the flags of the nations, and with [Geralrd] Finley, finally hoisted
the anchor to set free the voyaging soul." Hilary Finch, The Times, 06 June 2006 “Hickox knows every inch of the score and secures highly disciplined results. The radiant soprano and the steady gleam of Finley's baritone make this extremely competitive.” BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2007 “The choral singing is as alert and secure as one would expect from Hickox, and the balance with the orchestra is well judged too… Gerald Finley…a noble, warm-toned baritone soloist…” BBC Music Magazine, March 2007 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony'
Joan Rodgers (soprano) & Christopher Maltman (baritone) Bournemouth Symphony Chorus & Orchestra, Paul Daniel “Paul Daniel’s performance with the Bournemouth forces is one of the most successful to reach CD: it has spaciousness, drive and power in all the right places. The orchestral playing is refined, the choral singing robust and the ensemble tight.”
The Daily Telegraph | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony'
Joan Rodgers (soprano), William Shimell (baritone) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Vernon Handley “Handley never loses his grasp of this huge score, despite some steady tempos. The Liverpool acoustic throws up a few balance problems, but this is a sure-footed account with a soprano soloist who has few rivals.” BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2007 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony'
Christine Goerke (soprano), Brett Polegato (baritone) Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Atlanta Symphony Chorus, Robert Spano | | | This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched. |
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| |  | Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony'
Christine Goerke (soprano), Brett Polegato (baritone) Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Chorus, Robert Spano 2002 GRAMMY Awards winner for Best Classical Album and Best Choral Performance “…the…Atlanta choir is on stunning form. Their articulation in the exceptionally tricky Scherzo is unmatched. Baritone Brett Polegato… emerges… as warm toned, restrained, sensitive to the words, acutely aware of the harmonic context - perfect casting. Goerke rises nobly to her big moments... Spano... in firm control, not just of choir and soloists, but of his fine orchestra who contribute playing of exceptional delicacy and virtuosity...” BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2007 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony'
Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Brian Rayner Cook (baritone) London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson “This is admirable for the conductor's musicality and an idiomatic solo soprano. The baritone is dry of timbre but never less than intelligent. Much warmer and more resonant that many rivals.” BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2007 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | British Music Collection - Vaughan Williams Symphonies
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Adrian Boult (some symphonies recorded in mono) | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Vaughan Williams: Complete Symphonies
Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Catherine Bott (soprano), Brian Rayner Cook (baritone), Roderick Elms (organ) London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Bryden Thomson | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Vaughan Williams - Complete Symphonies
Vaughan Williams: | Symphony No. 1 'A Sea Symphony' Joan Rodgers (soprano) & Christopher Maltman (baritone) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Paul Daniel Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony' Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels The Wasps Overture Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels Symphony No. 3 'A Pastoral Symphony' Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels Symphony No. 6 in E minor Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels Symphony No. 4 in F minor Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Paul Daniel Flos Campi Paul Silverthorne (viola) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Paul Daniel Symphony No. 5 in D major Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels Symphony No. 9 in E minor Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels Symphony No. 7 'Sinfonia antartica' Lynda Russell (soprano) Ladies of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels Symphony No. 8 in D minor Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels Movement superscriptions for Sinfonia antartica Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 Paul Silverthorne (viola) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Paul Daniel |
6 CD's for price of 4 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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