Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO build upon their stunning performances of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fourth and Sixth Symphonies with a
magnificent interpretation of his beloved Fifth and enigmatic Ninth.

Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No 5 reaches for hope amid the turmoil of war. This sophisticated and deeply original work moved audiences at its 1943 premiere—its bittersweet melodies and transcendent climax offering a vision of future peace.

By the time he wrote his final symphony in 1957, Vaughan Williams had witnessed the true devastation of two world wars and the years that followed. The Ninth is a powerful final statement, balancing darkness with warmth, and unease with resilience.

Together, these two symphonies reflect a lifetime shaped by conflict and change. Side by side, they form a portrait of a composer who could embrace both light and shadow, hope and uncertainty, with equal mastery.

Composer Ralph Vaughan Williams
Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano
Performers London Symphony Orchestra

Symphony No. 5 in D Major
1. I. Preludio. Moderato
2. II. Scherzo. Presto misterioso
3. III. Romanza. Lento
4. IV. Passacaglia. Moderato

Symphony No. 9 in E Minor
5. I. Moderato maestoso
6. II. Andante sostenuto
7. III. Scherzo. Allegro pesante
8. IV. Finale. Andante tranquillo

Release Date 26 September 2025
LSO0900 | 0822231190028
LSO0900-D | 0822231190066

Producer Stephen Johns (Symphony No. 5), Andrew Cornall (Symphony No. 9)
Engineers Jonathan Stokes for Classic Sound Ltd
Recorded 17 & 18 April 2024 (Symphony No. 5) and 15 December 2024 (Symphony No. 9), in the Barbican Hall, London

Digital booklet in English, French and German

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SACD - Stereo & 5.1 multi-channel - Compatible with all CD players