Vaughan Williams

English composers have always featured in my awareness of classical music since the earliest of days and one I have been exploring more of is Vaughan Williams.

I recently bought this box set of his symphonies in acclaimed performances by Sir Adrian Boult that were originally issued as 5 individual mid price cds in the 1990's and to whom the remastering of the analogue recordings is superb.
It has the advantage of not having any unwanted other works coupled with it which helps not just enjoying the music but also filing your discs in some kind of order.

His Job-a Masque for Dancing is a most interesting work based upon the Old Testiment stories and originally conceived as a ballet. This 1984 recording is sublime. 

As an enjoyable account of these three works, this 1985 recording is hard to beat never mind the fine full blooded EMI sound.

 One of his most famous works is the Fantasia on Greensleeves which was featured on tis 1991 recording.

I've had this excellent disc which was released in 1995 that features his piano concerto for a good number of years now and it makes a great companion to the box set. It was recorded at Manchester's Free Trade Hall.