The Lark Ascending, a tone poem by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, was first performed in London on June 14, 1921. The piece was scored for solo violin and piano in 1914 and revised by the composer for solo violin and orchestra in 1920.
There are a whole lot of recordings of this composition by Vaughan Williams. I chose a collection by violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
He returns to The Lark Ascending for the first time on record in over 40 years in a magical performance with the orchestra of which he is Principal Guest Conductor: the Royal Philharmonic, founded 70 years ago by Sir Thomas Beecham.
Zukerman plays and conducts a collection of the best in English music: Vaughan Williams’ Tallis Fantasia and Elgar’s Introduction & Allegro and Serenade for Strings frame shorter works such as Salut d’amour, Chanson de Matin and Chanson de Nuit. The recording also includes the world premiere recording of In Moonlight: an arrangement for solo viola, strings and harp of Elgar’s famous Canto Popolare.
Here is Pinchas Zukerman in “The Lark Ascending” from this recording:
