WILLIAM WALTON London Concert, 1982, Blu-ray (2015)
Program: Coronation March; Violin Concerto in b; Belshazzar’s Feast
Performers: Kyung-Wha Chung, violin/ Thomas Allen, bar./ Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra/ Andre Previn
Studio: Arthaus Musik 109111 [Distr. by Naxos] (8/28/15)
Video: 1.33:1 1080p HD color
Audio: English PCM stereo
Subtitles: English, German, French
No region code
Length: 86 min.
Rating: ****
This was a very special occasion in Royal Festival Hall in London in 1982. Composer Walton sat in a ceremonial box between his wife and Princess Alexandra, with the standing ovations going on and on at the end. The video is of course compromised considering its age, but isn’t too bad (though a bit out of focus on long shots), and the PCM stereo audio is fine. Andre Previn was long known as a supporter of Walton’s music and therefore was the natural choice to conduct the orchestra for this concert.
Walton had a long career as a composer, and his music was alternately considered by the British as notorious, fashionable and finally popular. The Korean violinist Chung is a standout in the Walton Violin Concerto. There are plenty of closeups of the violinist performing the work. Belshazzar’s Feast is the most-performed choral work in English, and may be heard most anytime somewhere in the UK. Here the chorus really enters into the musical drama, and the British choristers love the section where the chorus shouts out “Slain!” at high volume. There is no doubt that the work has great emotional character and it is no wonder that it is so popular with audiences thruout the UK and Europe.
This Blu-ray beautifully captures that important evening at Royal Festival Hall in London in 1982. Why it took so long for it to be released is in question, but anyway here it is for the many who would be interested.
—John Sunier
