Walton: Belshazzar's Feast, Symphony No. 1 London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis

• Sir William Walton (1902 - 1983): Belshazzar's Feast:
• 1 I. "Thus Spake Isaiah" 05:25
• 2 II. A Tempo - "If I Forget Thee" 02:28
• 3 III. "By the Waters of Babylon" 02:56
• 4 IV. "Babylon Was a Great City" 04:03
• 5 V. "Praise Ye the God of Gold!" 05:01
• 6 VI. Allegro Molto - "Thus in Babylon" 02:05
• 7 VII. "Thou, O King, Art King of Kings" 01:06
• 8 VIII. "And in That Same Hour" 06:07
• 9 IX. "The Trumpeters and Pipers" 01:03
• 10 X. Allegro - "Then Sing Aloud to God Our Strength" 03:59
• Symphony No. 1 in B-Flat Minor:
• 11 I. Allegro assai 14:45
• 12 II. Scherzo - Presto, con malizia 06:40
• 13 III. Andante con malincolia 11:40
• 14 IV. Maestoso - Brioso ed ardentemente - Vivacissimo - Maestoso 12:51
• Total Runtime 01:20:09

Info for Walton: Belshazzar's Feast, Symphony No. 1

In 2006 LSO Live released Walton’s First Symphony conducted by Sir Colin Davis. The disc received widespread acclaim – it was an Editor’s Choice in Gramophone and voted CD of the Year by listeners of BBC Radio 3 CD Review. It is now being re-released, coupled with a new recording of Walton’s spectacular oratorio Belshazzar’s Feast.

Walton’s Symphony No 1 and Belshazzar’s Feast, which were written consecutively, helped him consolidate his reputation as the most exciting British composer of his generation. Belshazzar’s Feast, a superbly crafted oratorio, vividly depicts the story of Babylon’s excesses and subsequent downfall, brilliantly coloured by the orchestral forces, including two brass bands. Similarly effervescent, volcanic sentiments simmer beneath the surface of the First Symphony, the music conveying the tensions of the 1930s, whilst remaining timeless in its appeal.

LSO Live has recently released Sir Colin’s recording of Verdi’s Otello and the first in a cycle of Nielsen Symphonies. Forthcoming releases include Haydn’s The Seasons.

"Sir Colin Davis here reclaims the vigour of youth and harnesses it to his deep understanding of Walton's work. Where others dwell on surface detail, Davis consistently reveals the larger picture: listen, for example, to the 'writing on the wall' scene in Belshazzar, urgent, violent and ultimately cathartic. The LSO carries this music in its DNA and possesses the means to make it live in concert." (Classic FM Magazine)

"Davis inspires [the LSC] – and baritone soloist Peter Coleman-Wright – to a reading of technical polish, rhythmic energy and evangelical conviction, with a climax strong enough to convince even the doubters. The First Symphony suffers from a more muffled acoustic, but the performance is so gripping – the LSO at its virtuoso best – that you quickly get swept up in it." (Financial Times)

"Davis emphasizes more than usual the operatic element latent in the work and with which he is perhaps more familiar. Isaiah's opening prophecy of disaster is dramatically sung by the excellent chorus...The work springs instantly to life, and the lament of the Psalm setting 'By the waters of Babylon', one of its finest parts, is imbued with a sense of tragedy...Davis draws beautiful playing from the orchestra." (International Record Review)

Peter Coleman-Wright, baritone
London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Chorus
Sir Colin Davis, conductor

Sir Colin Davis
The traditional road to success for a conductor used to be an apprenticeship in an opera house as a coach, playing the piano for singers in rehearsal. Colin Davis chose another route, partly by necessity. Unable to play the piano, he was not allowed into the conducting course at the Royal College of Music in London. So, he achieved an important international career by taking the initiative to form ensembles and conduct for friends at first. Early successes included the founding of the Chelsea Opera Group, a company which to this day gives performances of little known operas in concert.

Davis was soon working with professional orchestras including the BBC Scottish Symphony. His first ‘break’ was at Sadler’s Wells in 1958 when his conducting of Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio began a lifelong connection with that composer. The Edinburgh Festival followed along with Glyndebourne. His concert career blossomed in the mid 1960′s alongside his opera work and his other passion for Berlioz began to bring him to the attention of record lovers. He has recorded all the major works of Berlioz, including the first complete (and still regarded as the landmark) recording of Les Troyens.

Davis has enjoyed a career-long affiliation with Philips Classics, recording along with Berlioz, Mozart, the complete symphonies of Sibelius (while he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Symphony in the 1970s) and much more.

Booklet for Walton: Belshazzar's Feast, Symphony No. 1