Telarc’s new recording of Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony reaches a level of sonic amplitude that nearly mirrors that of the ocean itself. A mighty surge of sound rushes forth from your speakers immediately following the opening brass fanfare, with chorus and orchestra in fully sonorous splendor. Even with all that, you can distinctly hear every word of Walt Whitman’s text thanks to the Atlanta Symphony Chorus’ fabled clarity of diction. Robert Spano leads a fresh and vibrant reading, with continuously flowing tempos and keen phrasing–both of which serve him well as he deftly navigates the work’s more placid passages.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra clearly relishes Vaughan Williams’ score and responds with heartfelt enthusiasm and virtuosity. Spano’s choice of soloists is near-ideal, with Christine Goerke’s stirring siren call in the first movement and, in the long finale, Brett Polegato’s rich baritone that suggests the sea’s profound depths. Boult’s EMI recording, with its heady, mystical atmosphere and its still-superb sound, retains its classic status. But Telarc has given us a Sea Symphony for the new century, as fine a performance as we could ask for with the best choral singing ever. Make sure you’re wearing a life jacket when you play this one! [7/20/2002]
