Symphony No. 1 and Belshazzar's Feast

Walton, William

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The Best from an Early Bloomer

Put this on to contemplate what it means to reach an artistic peak early in life. British composer William Walton (1902–1983) was in his early thirties when he finished his first symphony. It begins at a rushing gallop with many instruments hammering away at a single note, then splits off into brief episodes that transfer the headstrong rush of youth into sound. Later in his career, Walton showed a deep understanding of melody, but most of his work is concerned with rhythmic churning—tempos that shift and collide like tectonic plates. Walton invests each with a pronounced sense of drama, making excellent use of gnarled harmonies. Those accustomed to Mozart-style orderly chordal resolutions will find in Walton an approach to tension and release that is earstretching—but not off-putting.

Four years earlier, Walton had premiered Belshazzar's Feast, a cantata that is a more extroverted statement. On this recording, conductor Sir Simon Rattle creates grand gestures using unorthodox bowing techniques and other devices. His handling of the pieces is animated: He recognizes that Walton works best when the musicians match the vigor of the material.

By 1939, these two pieces and several others, including the coronation march Crown Imperial, had vaulted Walton to stardom. He was hailed as the most important British composer of the day, but he mistrusted the praise. That year, in an interview, he noted: "I've gone through the first halcyon periods and am just about ripe for my critical damnation." The words proved prophetic: Though he composed into the 1950s, Walton's later works were met with derision, and he never contributed anything as riveting as these two landmark pieces again.

Genre: Classical
Released: 2000, EMI
Key Tracks: Symphony No. 1: first movement. Belshazzar's Feast: "Thus Spake Isaiah."
Catalog Choice: Violin Concerto, Joshua Bell, Baltimore Symphony (David Zinman, cond.)
Book Page: 844

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