Symphony No. 8 (Vaughan Williams) Symphony No. 8 (Vaughan Williams) Ralph Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 8 in D minor was composed between 1953 and 1955. It was the first of his symphonies which Vaughan Williams numbered. Sir John Barbirolli conducted the premiere of the piece on 2 May 1956, with the Hallé Orchestra. The Eighth Symphony is the shortest of Vaughan Williams' nine symphonies, with a typical performance taking just under a half hour, yet it is remarkably inventive, especially in the composer's experiments in sonority. Not only does he use a much-expanded percussion section, including "all the 'phones and 'spiels known to the composer"
Howard Williams (conductor) Hamilton’s "Anna Karenina", and their first production of "The Consul" [Menotti]. Acclaimed for his partnership with singers, he has altogether conducted more than seventy operas. He was principal conductor of the Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra, 1981–1989; Principal Conductor & Artistic Director Pécs Symphony Orchestra (now Pannon Philharmonic), Hungary, (1989–93 and again 1996–2000);</ref> Guest conductor with the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden, London, 1984–1986. He conducted the pioneering new productions and television recordings of "Punch & Judy", 1986, and "The Knot Garden", 1987, with Opera Factory. Williams has appeared with most major orchestras in the UK and many throughout Europe. His recordings