No Vaughan Williams enthusiast can afford to be without these magnificent historical recordings, for despite dating from December 1952 and December 1953 they remain two of the finest accounts committed to disc. Boult's account of the Pastoral is far superior to his 1968 HMV recording (presently only available on cassette); in the first movement the seamless ebb and flow of the music is superbly caught, while at the same time there is always an awareness of the underlying tension. Dynamic shading, too (always a problem for both conductor and recording engineer in this movement), is also particularly well handled, and rarely have the opening bars to the second movement sounded as magical as they do here; indeed throughout this movement there's an extraordinary intensity more akin to a live performance than a studio recording. The fluctuating moods of the elusive, heroic/tragic scherzo and the marvellous pianissimo coda and transition into the last movement also deserve special mention. Margaret Ritchie's atmospheric performance of the wordless lament at the opening and close of the finale bring this satisfying performance to a serene conclusion.
The 1953 recording of the Fifth Symphony is scarcely less magnificent. The quiet elation and serenity of the first movement is beautifully poised, and the overall structure is carefully shaped and well crafted. The intensity of the Romanza and the mercurial lightness and shimmer the LPO bring to the fleet-footed scherzo are prime examples of the deeply committed performances found in these vintage recordings. The transfers to CD are first-class. Definitely high on my list of historical recordings this year.'