Search - Edward Elgar, London Symphony Orchestra, New Symphony Orchestra of London :: Elgar: Cello Concerto; Symphony No. 2

Historic Elgar!!!

Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 10/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Besides being one of the greatest composers to emerge from England during the late 19th and early 20th century, Edward Elgar was also one of the pioneers of early recording. His recording career began in 1914 and continued until 1933, the year before his death at age 76.

While most of Elgar's recordings are hard to find highly prized collector's items, there are quite of few that have made it onto CD that are worth listening to. One is the 1932 recording of his Violin Concerto with Elgar conducting and Yehudi Menuhin performing the solo part (available as part of EMI's Great Recordings Of The Century series). The other is this CD which includes the 1928 recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto and Second Symphony in which the recording dates from a year earlier.

Despite the recordings being from 1927 and 1928, the sound quality and remastering on this disc is outstanding. There isn't even the slightest hint of hiss or surface noise heard on both works. Beatrice Harrison's cello performance on the concerto is awe-inspiring and is full of emotion and yearning throughout the pieces four movements. The performance of the Second Symphony is full of heroism and vigor and is very much a blueprint for which other conductors should follow. It's quite difficult to point out the main highlights throughout this long symphony as all of it has many high points and is one gem of a recording.

This CD is highly recommended for the devout Elgar fan and is an excellent document of this great composer as conductor. Also recommended is the above mentioned Violin Concerto from EMI Records which also features Elgar conducting his most famous piece, the "Enigma Variations". There is also a disc from Naxos which features Elgar conducting all of his Pomp and Circumstance marches as well as the Cockaigne Overture (in the original mono as well as "accidental stereo"). The Enigma Variations is also on the Naxos disc. All three of these discs including this one are well worth owning and provide the listener with how this music should really sound. What better way to hear a composers music that from the composer himself."

Milestone Performances

Robert E. Nylund | Ft. Wayne, Indiana United States | 12/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not only was Sir Edward Elgar the first major composer to extensively conduct on recordings of his own music, he was also a very fine, sensitive musician who clearly communicated his thoughts to the orchestra. These are truly "milestone" performances that show Elgar at his best and, fortunately, HMV (His Master's Voice) displayed special care in achieving the best possible sound while using a single microphone in the early days of electrical recording.



The second symphony is a particular musical treasure. The music alone is so remarkable, displaying a considerable range of emotion and power. There is deep drama at times, especially in the beginning, and a real sense of mystery in the second movement. The scherzo of the third movement is not only playful but magical, particularly as Elgar builds the intensity and excitement in this performance by the skilled musicians of the London Symphony Orchestra. HMV actually recorded part of the rehearsal of the third movement and it gives an idea of how Elgar coaxed the musicians into giving even more; while he wanted the music to move, he gently warned them "but not too fast." The effects are absolutely wonderful to hear, leading to the remarkably passionate fourth movement.



Some have said that Elgar had become "old fashioned" by even the 1920s and certainly in the early 1930s, as his life drew to a close; however, he was a consummate English gentlemen and a gifted musician. Much like his contemporaries, Richard Strauss (who was a friend) and Sergei Rachmaninoff, Elgar stuck with romanticism and continued to find new and imaginative ways to work with it. This is certainly clear in these two works. How wonderful that we can again hear Elgar's own thoughts on his own music in superbly remastered recordings.

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