Walton: Symphony No 1

Hybrid / SACD - playable on all compact disc players

Recorded September and December 2005, Barbican, London

By the time he began working on his First Symphony, William Walton had already established himself as the most exciting young British composer of the day. The work proved to be one of the twentieth century's greatest symphonies. Volcanic sentiments simmer beneath its surface and the music conveys the tensions of the 1930s whilst always remaining consistently timeless in its appeal.


CD Reviews

'The playing is staggeringly impressive - this orchestra is quite incapable of playing a wrong note - and Sir Colin'sreading is astounding … he shapes the structure with unerring mastery. Sir Colin demonstrates what great conducting in this work can achieve. He holds the orchestraon a tight rein, but never to the detriment of expressivity, even in the Scherzo, and when he gives the LSO its head the effect is electrifying. What is also surely beyond dispute isthat this is a performance that will stand the test of time for generations to come'
International Record Review (UK), June 2006

'The whole performance, taken from concerts at the Barbican late last year, has a power and eloquence and tragic intensity that show the orchestra, their conductor, Colin Davis, and the work at their splendid best'
The Times, 30 April 2006

'Yet again, the London Symphony Orchestra has scored a hands-down success for their in-house record label, LSO Live. Sir Colin has long been a champion of English music, but even by his standards this is a vital performance. The LSO grapple with Walton's technically demanding score with apparent ease … It's one of their strongest releases yet'
MusicOMH.com, 22 April 2006

'No-one has exposed its troubled heart with greater care than Sir Colin. The sound is terrific … Don't hesitate!'
Classical CD of the Month
Hi-Fi News, July 2006

'The first movement is one of the most exhilarating in any 20th Century symphony, and all its power and propulsive energy is unleashed in Sir Colin's performance. The LSO cover themselves in glory with crisp rhythms and virtuosic playing from every department'
The Mail On Sunday, 30 April 2006

"A scorching performace from Sir Colin casts new light on Walton. Only one question everyone will be asking here - is it as good as Previn's? Different, but no less exciting. Davis again proves that he has lost none of his fire when it comes to the English repertoire and (as the cover art suggests) the LSO throws itself into the furnace. I'm hanging on to my classic Previn, but here's a digital supplement."
Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine (August 2006)