Search - Edward Elgar, Andrew Davis, BBC Symphony Orchestra :: Elgar: Cockaigne, Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Serenade, Enigma Variations

Classic English strings

bonerfly | NY | 10/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1991 set of the best known and favorite Elgar is electrfying, rich and sensitive all at the same time. I won't go into an intellectual synopsis of all the music because I really only know what my ears and body can tell me as opposed to my brain when it comes to this music. My ears tell me moving, dramatic and sometimes rapturous and just plain beautiful. The performance of Andrew Davis an the BBC Symphony is marvelouly pointed and the sound is rich, warm and spacious. Oh..and the Penguin Guide to Classical Music on CD gives this CD their highest honor..A "Rosette"...As best Elgar on CD...This is probably the best CD introduction to Elgars music out there. Strongly recommended to help you decide if you want to purchase other Elgar because if you don't like this one, you don't like Elgar"

Of the 29 recordings I have sampled... this one beats all of

Neil the Cellist | San Diego, CA | 12/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have searched everywhere, and I am serious, EVERYWHERE for the "perfect performance" of Elgar's most esteemed works, and I have finally found it. Everything is beautiful in this CD. Where ugliness appears to appear, it is only a feign sign of beauty to come in the next phrase of the music.



Andrew Davis reminds me of a great conductor, Sergiu Celibidache, who passed away in the past decade. Like Celibidache, Andrew Davis knows how to be meticulous with literally every aspect of music. It is clear that Davis spent a LOT of time with his musicians before making this recording, as there is much refined playing among the musicians, particularly in the string sections in Track 2 (Introduction and Allegro) and Tracks 3-5 (Serenade for Strings in E Minor).



For the easy listeners, the CD is enough to put you in a state of relaxation (Serenade for Strings), or tenseness (Enigma Variations), if that is what you prefer. For the musicians who are trying to find the best recording to learn off of, look no further. It's here, and all you need is to make this one purchase for the benefit of a lifetime of listening pleasure [or study]."