Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9; Flourish for Glorious John
Vaughan Williams's Eight and Ninth Symphonies carry on the composer's  enchantment with unusual instruments that first appeared in the Seventh  Symphony, the famousSinfonia Antartica. In the Eighth, there's a  terrific "bell" finale with its three tuned gongs and "all the phones and spiels  known to the composer," as well as inner movements written exclusively for winds  and strings. The Ninth has its share of exotic percussion too, but also a  flugelhorn and a trio of saxophones. It's all great listening, and it has never  been better performed and recorded than in these two outstanding performances.--David Hurwitz