Elgar 2 centenary - 24 May 2011

[maestro267]

Just wanted to give you a heads-up that this coming Tuesday (24 May) will mark 100 years to the day of the first performance of Sir Edward Elgar's Symphony No. 2 in E flat major. Personally, it's one of my favourite symphonies by a British composer, so I shall no doubt be playing it on Tuesday.

[amateur51]

Thanks for this maestro.

Symphony no 1 was more my cuppa for quite a long time; I came to it via the Solti/LPO recording and no 2 didn't quite grab me in the same way. I think it was a Barbirolli recording that helped me to 'get' no 2 & I've loved it ever since.

I'm greatly looking forward to getting the recently issued set of Elgar's complete electrical recordings of his own music

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/EMI/0956942

[Norfolk Born]

Just wanted to give you a heads-up that this coming Tuesday (24 May) will mark 100 years to the day of the first performance of Sir Edward Elgar's Symphony No. 2 in E flat major. Personally, it's one of my favourite symphonies by a British composer, so I shall no doubt be playing it on Tuesday.

As may I - once I've decided which recording to play - Hanley, Elgar, Haitink, Previn or Barbirolli?

[Barbirollians]

Barbirolli - the 1954 recording I think for me .

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks for this maestro.

Symphony no 1 was more my cuppa for quite a long time; I came to it via the Solti/LPO recording and no 2 didn't quite grab me in the same way. I think it was a Barbirolli recording that helped me to 'get' no 2 & I've loved it ever since.

I'm greatly looking forward to getting the recently issued set of Elgar's complete electrical recordings of his own music

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/EMI/0956942

I was in the same boat, ammy - First Symphony all the way, for me thanks to Haitink... Then it was Handley's reading that opened up the world of No 2.

(That £20 box looks very tempting too!!!!)

Ofca - in terms of versions, I do hope you have / have heard this one? http://www.musicweb-international.co...lt_SRCD221.htm
It is sock-knocking-off... Do indulge, if you don't know it!

[Roehre]

I'm greatly looking forward to getting the recently issued set of Elgar's complete electrical recordings of his own music

They are great. And re symphony 2: listen to the two takes Elgar made of its Scherzo.
He was not satisfied with the first take, and re-recorded it some time later.
I am curious whether you do hear why Elgar wasn't happy with take 1.

[Petrushka]

Just as I was about to start my own thread in this one, Maestro 267, I'm pipped at the post!

Caliban, the 1968 Boult version on Lyrita is by far his best recording of the Elgar 2 (and I have them all) but the 1956 LPO tecording now on First Hand, originally on the Westminster label, isn't far behind.

I came to both of the symphonies in 1975 via the Solti discs but it took me longer to 'get' the 2nd while the 1st blew me away immediately.

On Tuesday night I've just got to play Elgar's own 1927 recording. The sound and playing may leave something to be desired but that's the one for me on this very special anniversary.

Barbirollians, the 1954 Barbirolli 1954 recording was made in the same week I was born!

[Norfolk Born]

The 2nd was my 'breakthrough' work after being introduced to the usual 'lollipips' at school. More recently, the 1st has challenged it in my musical affections. I don't (as yet) have the Lyrita CDs, but used to have the 2nd on LP I think. Is it the version in which he repositions some of the strings?

[amateur51]

The 2nd was my 'breakthrough' work after being introduced to the usual 'lollipips' at school. More recently, the 1st has challenged it in my musical affections. I don't (as yet) have the Lyrita CDs, but used to have the 2nd on LP I think. Is it the version in which he repositions some of the strings?

If you can get your paws on a 'live' Elgar symphony no 1 conducted by Sir Adrian at the Proms in 1976 (?) it's an absolute winner, with a barn-storming final movement, Ofca.

I can't believe that I have friends who think that the Elgar symphonies are 'dull imperialist rubbish'

[Norfolk Born]

If you can get your paws on a 'live' Elgar symphony no 1 conducted by Sir Adrian at the Proms in 1976 (?) it's an absolute winner, with a barn-storming final movement, Ofca.

I can't believe that I have friends who think that the Elgar symphonies are 'dull imperialist rubbish'

My 'paws' closed over that in a charity shop a few years ago - it's the one with Slatkin's 'In The South'?

[amateur51]

My 'paws' closed over that in a charity shop a few years ago - it's the one with Slatkin's 'In The South'?

I don't recall a coupling, Ofca but that's probably because I have to have sherry or two during Sir Adrian's performance - it's a ripsnorter!

[Petrushka]

Is it the version in which he repositions some of the strings?

Yes, apparently the producer more or less forced an unhappy Boult to have all the violins to the conductor's left when his well-known preference (even to the extent of writing letters to the Times on the subject) was for first and seconds to be divided. The end result was, in my opinion, one of Sir Adrian's finest recordings.

There was an Elgar 2 given by Boult at the 1977 Proms in what was, I think, his final appearance there. Has this ever surfaced on disc?

[salymap]

Boult was good but Sargent gave some memorable performances of the Elgar 2, rising to the occasion when it was a special performance. There is a good recording from him with the BBCSO,live from Colston Hall, Bristol in theBBCMM, vol15 no 10.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Although Barbirolli's 1954 recording is my preferred version, I think I may listen to the composer's earlier pre-electric recording on Tuesday.

[barber olly]

So many good 2s, hard to choose but I tend to go for the more spacious versions, Barbarolli 1964, and Bryden Thomson's on Chandos.