Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5 - Sir Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra; Sir Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (CD)

The [4th Symphony] is especially interesting: not previously issued; furthermore, it may well be new to the Davis discography. Vaughan Williams’ Fourth Symphony receives a terrific reading … first movement full of teeming energy and the recorded sound adds to the impact … an expertly judged slow movement offers refined playing but they and Davis make the climaxes ardent. The Scherzo is really incisive … the finale explodes into life and the LSO brass is on trenchant form … Davis keeps the performance rock-steady and they achieve great clarity … hard to understand why it was never issued separately – greatly to be welcomed” (MusicWeb). [5th symphony]

Symphony No.4 in F minor [31:43]
1. I. Allegro 7:57
2. II. Andante moderato 9:29
3. III. Scherzo: Allegro molto 5:31
4. IV. Finale con epilogo fugato: Allegro molto 8:45

Symphony No.5 in D major [39:17]
5. I. Preludio: Moderato – Allegro – Tempo I 12:11
6. II. Scherzo: Presto misterioso 4:28
7. III. Romanza: Lento 11:31
8. IV. Passacaglia: Moderato 11:05