BBC Symphony Orchestra

Vaughan Williams's Fourth Symphony is an image-buster in itself, blasting away fluttering larks with an opening that seems to spring from the middle of something tortured by Shostakovich. Litton, a US champion of UK music, launched the orchestra fearlessly at this restless score, with only the gleaming flute solo of the second movement providing real repose...Litton knows how to make a loud orchestra sound good, and the BBCSO, playing together with almost percussive accuracy, were on top form for him.

The real highlight of the evening – perhaps unexpectedly – was the performance of Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 4. Litton's championing of English music has rarely been heard to better effect. The insistent force of the music was given its head and, as always, Litton encouraged self-assured playing from the BBCSO, which produced a splendidly bronzed, brass-heavy, rather American sound for him.