Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 In the Fen Country Fantasia on Greensleeves
Concerto Grosso New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/James Judd (NAXOS 6.110053 SACD) A Relisten
The recordings are lifelike, immediate and detailed. The soundscape is huge, wide and immersive.
Music Web International says: "Although I found the performance of the first work (Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis) disappointing, the disc as a whole is a good one ... The rest of the disc, however, cannot be criticised, and contains some first-rate performances, including a most atmospheric rendition of the first Norfolk Rhapsody and a very idiomatic and sensitive performance of In The Fen Country, with a beautiful cor anglais [English horn] solo. The other two pieces on the disc are the Fantasia on Greensleeves (a capable performance), and a slightly gruff version of the Concerto Grosso, with rather mechanical playing that reflects the way the piece was constructed (for three sets of players of very different musical ability). The sound is good in all of the works, the Tallis exceptions noted, and is greatly boosted when listened to in surround."
