No true fan of Vaughan Williams would miss a new recording of his greatest symphony, which also happens to be the greatest symphony of the entire English repertoire. The Symphony No. 5 was perfectly constructed – it had to be to justify its dedication to Jean Sibelius. It was composed between 1938 and 1943 in the wake of The Pilgrim’s Progress, an unfinished opera whose themes the composer reused, notably in the first, third (the sublime Romanza) and fourth movements. The work is among the composer’s very lyrical and meditative works but also provides moments of great dramatic force with occasional violent bursts and currents of uneasiness. The dedication to Sibelius can also be explained by the occasional use of similar compositional techniques, such as the use of tremolos and pedals in the lower registers (particularly in the first part of Romanza), however, Vaughan Williams’ technique remains completely polyphonic, in the classical tradition. At the head of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Michael Collins brings us this well-polished version, but some music lovers will perhaps also recall the many moving versions by Sir John Barbirolli (HMV, 1962), Bryden Thomson (Chandos, 1987) and Vernon Handley (EMI, 1987)! First and foremost a clarinettist, Michael Collins makes the most of his first release as a conductor for BIS Records by performing his version of the very pastoral Concerto for clarinet by Finzi, a composer whose Five Bagatelles, Op. 23a he recorded for Chandos Records in 2012. Although similar to Vaughan Williams, Finzi developed a more neo-classical style and his works are strongly influenced by the music of J.S. Bach whom he adored, as he demonstrated through ritornellos that were often very moving. Concerto for clarinet bears less of those traces than Dies Natalis, for example, but its delicate clarinet is like a lone voice in a world of madness. Unforgettable. © Pierre-Yves Lascar/Qobuz