Elgar

Elgar ovs CHAN6652

Elgar: Overtures (Chandos)

A much-admired Elgar Overtures disc still sounds resplendent [JW]

Elgar: Violin Concerto, Carissima (Warner Classics)

An erratic and temperamentally uneven performance [JW]

Elgar violin BIS2659

Elgar: Mot d’amour. Works for violin & piano (BIS)

A variably successful disc [JW]

Elgar syms SRCD221

Elgar: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 (Lyrita)

(Déjà Review) Rarely, rarely comes an opportunity like this [SHa]

British String Miniatures Vol 1 (ASV)

(Déjà Review) Lithe and insightful traversals [JW]

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Isolde Menges (violin) (Biddulph)

A great artist’s important legacy restored, including first recordings of Beethoven, Bach and Vaughan Williams [JW]

Elgar: Symphony No 1 (Decca)

Barenboim imposes his own conception upon this wonderful symphony [RMo]

Elgar: Enigma Variations (Opus Arte)

(Déjà Review) Certainly an item to add to your collection, both for the visuals and the splendid performance [KS]

Elgar syms CDHLD7564

Elgar: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 (Hallé)

Elder’s later pair of Elgar symphonies is a fine achievement in beautiful sound – but not, perhaps, the last interpretative word [RMo]

475 Jahre Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden (Profil)

Many first-class performances to celebrate the 475th anniversary of the Staatskapelle Dresden [MC]

Elgar: Symphony No. 1, Cockaigne Overture  (Oehms Classics)

A swift, cohesive, sensitive and beautifully played account of the greatest English symphony [RMo]

Elgar: Enigma Variations (Hallé)

(Déjà Review) A radiant account of Enigma [CF]

world 80 minutes orchid

Around the World in 80 Minutes (Orchid Classics)

Well-chosen old favourites and new discoveries [JF]

elder symphonies halle

Elgar: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 (Hallé)

Distinguished recordings which surpass the earlier recordings by these performers [JQ]

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (Signum Classics)

A considerable achievement [JQ]

albion ralph vaughan williams serenade to music

Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music (Albion Records)

Another transfer of the 1938 Serenade to Music and miscellaneous songs from the 16 singers [JW]

parallels divine art

Parallels (Divine Art)

This impressive recital ‘parallels’ old and new favourites [JF]

The-Monarchs Music Collis Smith CRD 3545 barnardbarnard

The Monarch’s Music (CRD)

A timely and enjoyable celebration of music for royal occasions [WH]

albion ralph vaughan williams serenade to music

Vaughan Williams’s Serenade to Music (Albion Records)

This important historical document must be judged on its own terms [JF]

A Year at Newcastle Regent REGCD582

A Year at Newcastle (Regent)

An absorbing exploration of 20th-century church music, and a few recent compositions [JF]

American and English Orchestral Music (Claves)

A fascinating juxtaposition of the familiar and the unfamiliar [PJ]

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Elgar: Orchestral Works (LSO Live)

Best avoided – there are many far superior options [RMo]

The-Monarchs Music Collis Smith CRD 3545 barnardbarnard

The Monarch’s Music (CRD)

Admirers of music for Military Band and its performing traditions will enjoy this diverse programme [NB]

Humour and Classical Music: Elgar’s Smoking Cantata

by David Barker