Credits:

Antonio Pappano

Description:

Vaughan Williams Largest SymphonyA Grand Ode to the Sea: *The Sea Symphony*A performance bursting with tremendous energy and brillianceThe third installment in the LSOs complete Vaughan Williams symphony series, conducted by Pappano. This is *The Sea Symphony*, the largest of Vaughan Williams nine symphonies.Premiered in 1910, Vaughan Williams first symphony, *The Sea Symphony*, was begun in 1903 and took seven years to complete; it was premiered on October 12, 1910, with the composer himself conducting. It is a monumental four-movement work requiring a soprano soloist, a baritone soloist, a mixed choir, and a full orchestra. The lyrics feature excerpts from the American poet Walt Whitmans poetry collection *Leaves of Grass*. Whitman was a vital spiritual source for Vaughan Williams throughout his life, and *Symphony of the Sea* is his largest-scale work based on Whitmans poetry. The opening