Vaughan Williams "Five Mystical Songs" (p. 2) - Thomas Allen at Last Night of the Proms 2004

[TheLaura1655]

Does anyone know why you cant see Toward the Unknown Region Vaughan Williams at Royal Alvert Hall.It seems to have disappeared unfortunately.

[dryt123]

its wonderful moving music. still Id like to suggest listening to for instance the bbc proms 2009 or alternatvie versions, as this youtube clip is, to me, too operatic/ dramatic in a way that conveys the simpleness and directness of RVW:s musical hearth.

[KITCHENOFDISTINCTION]

Thanks yet again interpreterr - wonderful posting.

[38richmax]

The poetry of metaphysical poet and divine George Herbert is among the most fascinating and inspiring in the English language. The greatest tribute that one can pay to Vaughan Williams is, I think, that his settings of the five poems included here are as close to perfection as it is possible to come in their clear understanding and interpretation of the ideas and moods that Herbert presents.

[clodoaldoljr]

Am I mistaken or he hesitated near the end "such a ....ove as none can part"? It sounded like a "hove". He nevertheless a wonderful sinner, oops, I mean singer...

[YKW2]

@clodoaldoljr

No, you're quite right. He tried to sing "heart", then realised it was "love" and changed halfway through

But yes, didn't detract from the overall performance at all

[Singingjacobus]

Incredible.

[MPJ1952]

I'm especially taken by "The Call" (05:22-07:40) -- deeply moving. What a voice, what a perfect musical setting for this poem. Some things never change ... human yearning for love certainly doesn't.

I was inspired to look for other renditions of "Love Bad Me Welcome" on today's National Poetry Day in the UK. Sarah Mohr-Pietsch on BBC Radio 3 played a listener request and I was impressed. But "The Call" is the choice for me today, and this is as perfect as rendition as any I've ever heard.

[interpreterr]

@MPJ1952 Well, I really must explore these songs further. I've been getting some lovely comments about this recording - I didn't realise people cared about this piece so much.

[MPJ1952]

I'm especially taken by "The Call" -- deeply moving. What a voice, what a perfect musical setting for this poem. Some things never change ... human yearning for love certainly doesn't.

PS: Was inspired to go looking for other renditions of "Love Bad Me Welcome" on today's National Poetry Day in the UK. Sarah Mohr-Pietsch on BBC Radio 3 played a listener request and I was impressed. But "The Call" is the choice for me today, and this is as perfect as rendition as any I've ever heard.

[65renaissanceman]

What always gets me about this is the "Antiphon". It's well known to English churchgoers as the hymn "Let all the world in every corner sing" but once you've heard this, the usual tune "Luckington" is just SO pedestrian. I've sung in this several times and it almost makes me take back my usual thought about Vaughan Williams when our choir does "In Windsor Forest" or the "Fantasia on Christmas Carols" - that he was put on this earth to make life difficult for choirs!

[ellethelvanui]

Beyond brilliance. Thomas Allen is undoubtedly one of the greatest baritones of our age.

[interpreterr]

@ellethelvanui Agree! I've been listening quite a lot to him for quite some time now and his performances never fail to give much pleasure (at least - they are often, as you say, beyond brilliance).

[JimC]

@ellethelvanui I must agree. His performance is magnificent.

[allybari]

Wonderful, just wonderful Sang this myself a year or two ago, and it's nowhere near as easy as Tom makes it sound. Superb technique of course, but it's his ability to get straight to the heart of the words that brings the lump to the throat.

[nshelton88]

wonderful. That's all I can say. Emotional and well sung.

[drunkenglamour]

3:25 - 4:43 = spine tingling

[RobertCEvans]

Wonderful! Thank you very much!