01. - 04. Symphony No.5 in D major [37'55]
05. - 08. Symphony No.3 'A Pastoral Symphony' * [35'26]
Rosa Mannion- soprano *, London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Roger Norrington
Decca 458357-2 [recorded November 1996 & February 1997; CD release 1998]
[digital download; flacs, cover and inlay scans - no booklet]
Recording venue: The Colloseum, Watford
Recording Engineer: John Dunkerley; Producer: Chris Hazell
This was the first of the three discs issued in this series of Vaughan Williams symphonies with Norrington and the London Philharmonic before recording was abandoned. Again, I do like them a lot and find them very interesting with Norrington often highlighting textures which can go unnoticed. I think that the performances here of both the Pastoral and Fifth Symphonies are fine if a little cool at times and overall, not quite as engaging or profound as many others.
The London Philharmonic again play very well for Norrington and there is the usual vivid Decca sonics. However, Rosa Mannion is balanced too distantly for my taste in the Pastoral Symphony. I don't know if this was Norrington's or the production team's decision. Fortunately, they haven't done the same with the solo trumpet in the second movement as seems to have become the new normal in recent recordings.