Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress
List Price:
Our Price: $10.22
You Save: $4.76 (32%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $8.89 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Performer: Geoffrey ShawPerformer: Geoffrey Ward
Performer: John Carol Case
Performer: John Noble
Performer: John Shirley-Quirk
Performer: Raimund Herincx
Performer: Terence Sharpe
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Conductor: Adrian Boult
Performer: Delia Wallis
Performer: Jean Temperley
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Chorus
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Performer: Doreen Price
Performer: Gloria Jennings
Performer: Marie Hayward
Performer: Norma Burrowes
Performer: Sheila Armstrong
Performer: Wendy Eathorne
Performer: Bernard Dickerson
Edition: Music CD
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2005-07-13
Music Label: EMI Import
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Prologue: Bunyan In Prison
- Act I, Scene 1: The Pilgrim Meets Evangelist
- Act I, Scene 2: The House Beautiful
- Act I: Nocturne (Intermezzo)
- Act II, Scene 1: The Arming Of The Pilgrim
- Act II, Scene 2: The Pilgrim Meets Apollyon
- Act III, Scene 1: Vanity Fair 'Buy! What Will Ye Buy?'
- Act III, Scene 1: Vanity Fair 'I Buy The Truth!'
- Act III, Scene 2: The Pilgrim In Prison
- Act IV, Scene 1: The Pilgrim Meets Sinister By-Ends
- Act IV: Entr'acte
- Act IV, Scene 2: The Delectable Monsters 'Who So Dwelleth'
- Act IV, Scene 2: The Delectable Monsters 'The Lord Is My Shepherd'
- Act IV, Scene 3: The Pilgrim Reaches The End Of his Journey
- Act IV: Epilogue
- Sir Adrian In Rehearsal: Act III Scene 1
- Sir Adrian In Rehearsal: Act I Nocturne
- Sir Adrian In Rehearsal: Act IV Scene 1
- Sir Adrian In Rehearsal: Act IV Scene 2
- Sir Adrian In Rehearsal: Act II Scene 1
Music reviews of Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress
Music Review: A great work
Rating: 5 Stars
Vaughan Williams worked on The Pilgrim's Progress intermittently for over forty years. The Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains was published as a separate work in the 1920s. Work continued in the 1930s and 1940s and he used themes from it in his 5th symphony. It was first performed at Covent Garden as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951 and the production was terrible. Its failure was a bitter blow to the composer because the work meant a lot to him. He was cheered up a lot by a fine amateur production in Cambridge in 1954. The part of Pilgrim was taken by a young physics student, John Noble. He takes the lead on this recording which dates from 1972.This is one of what the writer, Michael Kennedy, called RVW's 'problem operas'. Theatrically, it is rather static and there is little character development. Kennedy thinks it should be considered as a series of tableaux vivants. One can argue about this ad nauseam but the main thing to bear in mind is that the opera is what RVW meant to express. He is known for being a modest man but in fact he recognised when he had created something good. He knew the value of his own work. Opera is not a word that appears in the title: he calls it a Morality. So it is best to accept the work on its own terms.
It is based on Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress with other biblical words added in. It tells of Pilgrim's (he is not called Christian as RVW wanted it be be accessible to people of all faiths. He himself was an atheist) journey to the Celestial City. He fights Apollyon (the devil), visits Vanity Fair, gets thrown in gaol and finds a pastoral idyll in the Delectable Mountains. The music is scary and witty at times but the overall impression is one of visionary beauty and great nobility. There is no doubt as to its spirituality and the music related to the 5th symphony takes me to emotional regions that no other music can. It may have its problems as a stage work but it is an ideal gramophone opera.
The digital remastering is very successful with only a hint of tape hiss at quiet moments. The recording is very acceptable given it is 30 years old. The rehearsal recording reveals the unexpected wit of Boult. All the performances are excellent. An important, even historic, recording.
More Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress free music reviews:
1
1
Description of Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.Classical CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classical CDs
Winterscapesby London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebeeby Dini Petty
Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.38
Price in other shops:
Classical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs CdrRelease date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $24.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
![Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] Image](/images/Jose-Carreras-Jubileum-Concert-VHS-1584481471-X.jpg){kind=small}
Jose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops:
![Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] Image](/images/Tchaikovsky-The-Nutcracker-Nureyev-Park-Royal-Ballet-VHS-156127092X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.89
Price in other shops:
![Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] Image](/images/Lonely-Town-Lonley-Street-Sergeant-Early-Dream-VHS-1561270857-X.jpg){kind=small}
Rambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Winter Music: Composing the Northby John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.88
Price in other shops:
![Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Puccini-La-Fanciulla-del-West-Santi-Domingo-Neblett-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720382-X.jpg){kind=small}
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops:
![Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Verdi-Falstaff-Giulini-Bruson-Ricciarelli-Nucci-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720358-X.jpg){kind=small}
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops: