Vaughan Williams: Symphonies No.4 & 6
Antonio Pappano / London Symphony (LSO Live)
(scroll down for English review)
倫敦交響樂團宣佈帕帕諾將從拉圖接過音樂總監之職後，樂團自家品牌便推出這張錄音，佛漢威廉斯《第四交響曲》及《第六交響曲》。拋開離任繼任的問題，這兩首交響曲當是聽佛漢威廉斯交響曲，一個很好的入門位，假如從頭開始聽，較難聽得完九首。
這兩首易聽的原因，很大程度是因為快板都頗火爆，而且都是骨子的四個樂章，也是較短的佛氏交響曲。
這種不前衛的二十世紀交響曲目，似是帕帕諾鍾情的曲目，他在這兩首樂曲追求的，我看是一種俐落及力量並存，聲響龐大而不臃腫。不過對於這種曲目沒有特別感情的朋友，最終可能只會聽快板，因為我覺得帕帕諾未能解決到，佛漢威廉斯的慢板過於呆滯的問題。
《第六交響曲》連第四樂章都是慢板，意圖營造肅殺的氣氛（這點我覺得有點像蕭斯達高維契較長的交響曲），不過就這樣肅殺到尾。
This CD was released just after the announcement that Pappano would be the next LSO Music Director. Apart from musical chairs matters, these two symphonies are excellent introductions to the nine symphonies of Vaughan Williams. If you start from the First, chances are you wouldn’t be able to reach the end.
I guess the main reason that these two are very accessible is that they have powerful allegros. They also belong to the shorter works of the nine symphonies and they have a neat four-movement structure.
Such non-avant-garde 20th century symphonies seem to be a favourite of Pappano’s. I think Pappano’s approach is agility with power, and a massive sound without bulkiness. But to those who don’t have an affinity to this repertoire might end up just listening to the allegros. I don’t think Pappano has done enough to compensate the rather sluggish slow movements.
The finale of the Sixth Symphony is also a slow movement with a chilliness not unlike the longer Shostakovich symphonies. But it remained chilly until the end.