“… this is a distinguished and strongly recommended issue …”

Editor’s Choice – Orchestral Section

“Anyone looking for an introduction to the music of Vaughan Williams ought to look no further than this new release of the composer’s most popular orchestral works …The three works, however, which are especially memorable on this recording are the wonderfully spacious interpretation of The Lark Ascending, the edifying fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and perhaps epicentral to Vaughan Williams’s character, Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus’. The clarity of James Ehnes’s playing, with virtually flawless intonation is relaxed and profoundly lyrical  … this is a must!”

Orchestral Choice

Performance *****      Recording ****

“… Collectors will savour a genuine rarity; the composer’s own orchestra-only arrangement of Serenade to Music… the music sounds as rapturously beautiful as ever, and Manze’s conducting gets a handsome orchestral response… James Ehnes’s strong, forthright and unaffected delivery of The Lark Ascending’s solo part is an asset in itself …”