“…There is much here, all-in-all, to attract admirers of the great English composer’s music. Recommended …”

“… Lortie and Mercier are no less convincing [than Boult’s soloists] in this sumptuously recorded new account, with excellent depth and weight of tone in the outer movements and beautiful touch in the ravishing central Romanza and final cadenza. The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra accompany superbly and give a fine performance of the symphony too.” ****

“…His [Davis] attention to details in what’s a very elaborately orchestrated work constantly makes the music more vibrant. He particularly recreates the chilling atmosphere so vital to this music. Mari Eriksmoen’s intense voice makes the music wholly captivating… Roderick Williams’s interpretations [Four Last Songs] are all a composer could ask for… the Antartica is a must-have.”

“... Davis’s performance, with Canadian pianists Louis Lortie and Hélène Mercier, is  a ... grandiose affair, helped by the spacious Chandos acoustic. The balance between soloists and orchestra is equal, and the slow Romanza movement contains beautifully expressive playing... Roderick Williams gives a sensitive performance. [Four Last Songs] ..."   ****½

“...This performance is simply magnificent. I found it utterly compelling and so true to the inherently fiery and concentrated rigour of the music that it was like hearing a masterpiece for the first time – as, indeed, in my case it was. I have no doubt that this Concerto, in the Two-Piano version, is one of the composer’s great works – an astonishing conception, the more so in the concluding part of the Finale, wherein the nature of the music changes so completely that it feels one is listening to another work entirely, only after which does it feel that this mood of acceptance has been behind the music all along, hidden by the intensity of the musical foreground. It is a breathtaking achievement as a work of art, and I can only urge those unfamiliar with the piece to seek it out forthwith – but only in this landmark recording in the Vaughan Williams discography. The committed nature of the playing of Louis Lortie and Hélène Mercier, and of the Bergen Philharmonic under Andrew Davis, is beyond criticism.... “  *****

Performance *****      Sound *****

“... Davis is at his most dynamic, and the Bergen Philharmonic playing is characteristically crisp. This would be my present first choice ... The Bergen players are especially effective, the huge orchestration never cluttered or opaque in SACD spaciousness ...”

Diapason d’Or

5/5 Sound

5/5 SACD Sound

“... this newcomer finds both the Bergen PO and Chandos recording-team on stellar form in a programme as absorbing as it is generous... Top-notch contributions from soprano Mari Eriksmoen and the combined choirs add to the considerable pleasure. The recording has stunning depth, truth of perspective and naturalness of timbre to commend to commend it. High marks, too, for the expert balance struck by the engineers in the Concerto for two pianos and orchestra.... All told, a distinguished release.”

“... the Bergen Phil finds a clear affinity with the Sinfonia Antartica... Davis authoritatively builds up the tension without any fussiness... The second rarity on the album sheds another light on Vaughan Williams: the Piano Concerto in C major ... it’s persuasively done here. The pianists Louis Lortie and Hélène Mercier intelligently join the dots, by turns skittish and reflective.” ****

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