The best recordings of William Walton

We select the essential recordings of works by the enduring British composer, William Walton

Freya Parr

Published: March 29, 2019 at 7:00 am

The Centenary Edition

Tamsin Little etc.; Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Little Decca 470 5082

All the symphonies, concertos and more, in a comprehensive set.

Six of the best 20th-century British choral works

Walton Conducts Walton

LPO, LSO/William Walton Lyrita SCRD 224

Walton here directs Portsmouth Point, Capriccio burlesco and other works.

Five essential works by Benjamin Britten

Troilus and Cressida

Arthur Davies, Judith Howarth etc.; Opera North/Richard Hickox Chandos CHAN 9370

Top-flight singing and orchestral playing makes an ultra-strong case for Walton’s neglected opera.

Six of the best operas about Roman leaders

Façade; Façade 2

Susana Walton, Richard Baker (narrators); City of London Sinfonia/Hickox Chandos CHAN 8869

Walton’s early masterwork, plus its later supplement.

Digital Editor and Staff Writer, BBC Music Magazine

Freya Parr is BBC Music Magazine's digital editor and staff writer, editing and writing on all styles of music across both the website and print magazine. She has also written for titles including the Guardian, Circus Journal, Frankie and Suitcase Magazine, and runs The Noiseletter, a fortnightly arts and culture publication. Freya's main areas of interest and research lie in 20th-century and contemporary music. She's a regular sea shanty singer, folk obsessive and occasional flautist, pianist, organist and musical theatre director.