“… I always come back to this live recording of Symphony No. 1 with Colin Davis and the LSO for its power and volatility. The brass playing is magnificent, and there's a tender flute solo in the third movement, accompanied by some beautiful string playing. It comes with an equally admirable Belshazzar's Feast, with some splendidly incisive singing from the London Symphony Chorus and a fine solo contribution from baritone Peter Coleman-Wright.”

“… If you like your Walton unleashed at full and scalding voltage, look no further. The [LSO's] trademark virtuosity and panache are so great, and the players' unravelling of Walton's demanding part-writing in the First Symphony so clear, that their performance penetrates straight to the heart of the music...[in Belshazzar] the central 'Feast' and closing 'Hymn of Praise' are each propelled by a rampant percussive firepower...Coleman-Wright is a formidable soloist”  ****

“… Sir Colin Davis here reclaims the vigour of youth and harnesses it to his deep understanding of Walton's work. Where others dwell on surface detail, Davis consistently reveals the larger picture: listen, for example, to the 'writing on the wall' scene in Belshazzar, urgent, violent and ultimately cathartic. The LSO carries this music in its DNA and possesses the means to make it live in concert.” *****

“… Davis inspires [the LSC] – and baritone soloist Peter Coleman-Wright – to a reading of technical polish, rhythmic energy and evangelical conviction, with a climax strong enough to convince even the doubters. The First Symphony suffers from a more muffled acoustic, but the performance is so gripping – the LSO at its virtuoso best – that you quickly get swept up in it.” ****

“… Davis emphasizes more than usual the operatic element latent in the work and with which he is perhaps more familiar. Isaiah's opening prophecy of disaster is dramatically sung by the excellent chorus...The work springs instantly to life, and the lament of the Psalm setting 'By the waters of Babylon', one of its finest parts, is imbued with a sense of tragedy...Davis draws beautiful playing from the orchestra.”

Disc of the Week

Best of the Year Discs for 2011 One of the best Classical releases in 2011 Audiophile Audition - 27 December 2011

Sir Colin and his LSO forces are in sizzling form in this truly revolutionary take on the often turgid oratorio form Limelight magazine

Disc of the Week an outstanding bargain The LSO Chorus give Walton’s grateful choral writing all they have, and the orchestra revel in his brilliant and unconventional orchestration. Davis, too, proves an absolutely authentic performer The Sunday Times

If you like your Walton unleashed at full and scalding voltage, look no further. The LSO’s trademark virtuosity and panache are so great, and the players’ unravelling of Walton’s demanding part-writing in the First Symphony so clear, that their performance penetrates straight to the heart of the music BBC Music Magazine

(Belshazzar’s Feast’s) effervescent choruses are meat and drink to a top-flight choir such as the LSC the LSO at its virtuoso best Financial Times

Artistic Quality 9 Sound Quality 9 it comes in tandem with an absolutely smoking version of Belshazzar’s Feast, easily the finest performance in a decade or so, and the combination of the two earns this particular pairing a firm recommendation" ClassicsToday.com

***** Audiophile Audition

**** Classica (France)