Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony'

This page lists all recordings of Symphony No. 2 'A London 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.

Having made some sketches for a symphonic poem about London, Vaughan Williams was encouraged by George Butterworth to write a full symphony, and adapted these initial sketches into his London Symphony.

Vaughan Williams continued to revise the piece for many years, yet for all his changes it remained “the symphony he himself liked best of his nine”, as he told Sir John Barbirolli.

Although not strictly programmatic (Vaughan Williams suggested it would have been better titled “Symphony by a Londoner"), the work still depicts various London scenes, including the Westminster chimes, the street cries of flower sellers, and also some of the grimmer aspects of city life.

The symphony ends with the rippling of the Thames carrying the audience away from the bustling city.

Recommendations

Gramophone Awards 2001

Record of the Year

Gramophone Magazine

Editor's Choice
July 2001

Penguin Guide

Rosette

Penguin Guide

Rosette

Penguin Guide

Rosette

All recordings

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Ralph Vaughan Williams

Vaughan Williams:

Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony'

Symphony No. 6 in E minor

Prelude and Fugue in C minor

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley

EMI British Composers - 5865922

(CD - 2 discs)

$10.99

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony', etc.

Butterworth, G:

The Banks of Green Willow

Vaughan Williams:

Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony'

original 1913 version

London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox

Gramophone Awards 2001

Record of the Year

Gramophone Magazine

Editor's Choice - July 2001

Penguin Guide

Rosette Winner

Chandos - CHAN9902

(CD)

$16.99

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 2

Vaughan Williams:

Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony'

The Wasps Overture

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kees Bakels

"Bakels draws ravishing sounds from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, notably the strings…A thrilling experience…this is a performance to stimulate the ear" Penguin Guide

Naxos - 8550734

(CD)

$6.99

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Vaughan Williams - Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5

Vaughan Williams:

Fantasia on Greensleeves

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin

Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony'

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn

Symphony No. 5 in D major

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Barry Griffiths (first violin), Peter Cosham (second violin), Andrrew Williams (viola) & Francois Rive (cello)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn

The Lark Ascending

Barry Griffiths (violin)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andre Previn

Telarc Everybody’s Classics - 2CD80738

(CD - 2 discs)

$9.99

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

Best of London

Coates, E:	London (London Everyday) Suite Nos. 1 & 3 London Calling London Again Suite Nos. 1 & 3
Cutting:	Greensleeves
Dankworth:	Widespread World (Rediffusion London Call Sign)
Elgar:	Cockaigne Overture, Op. 40 'In London Town'
Handel:	Coronation Anthem No. 1, HWV258 'Zadok the Priest'
Haydn:	Symphony No. 104 in D major 'London' Finale: Spiritoso
Holst:	St Paul's Suite, Op. 29 No. 2 Finale, ‘The Dargason’ Air from Brook Green Street
Ireland:	London Pieces Chelsea Reach
Parry:	I was glad
Sullivan:	The Yeoman of the Guard Overture
Torch:	London Transport Suite
Vaughan Williams:	Symphony No. 2 'A London Symphony' Movement 1
Walton:	Crown Imperial
Wood, Haydn:	12 London Landmarks Suite: The Horse Guards, Whitehall

These discs present a rich and varied flavour of Britain’s capital city. Offering a diverse and wide-ranging taste of music spanning over three centuries, the pieces on this compilation are evocative of London in all its glory, whether that be light musical cameos of famous locations, to the archetypal Coronation Anthems of Handel and the eponymous symphonies of Haydn and Vaughan Williams. This 2-CD set contains music by some of Britain’s most popular native and adopted composers. The first disc on this compilation offers a nostalgic trip back through British light music, easily recognized for its emphasis on instantly accessible and catchy melodies. Tracks include the popular Yeoman of the Guard overture by Arthur Sullivan, as well as extracts from the London Suites by Dam Busters composer Eric Coates and Dankworth’s Rediffusion London Call Sign. The second disc comprises more traditional pieces, ranging from delicate lute arrangements of Henry VIII’s attributed ditty Greensleeves to Walton’s joyous coronation march Crown Imperial.

Naxos - 8572098-99

(CD - 2 discs)

$10.99

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.