Anyone into predicting??

[wzg]

Which do you think will win??

[pastoralguy]

I hope the Elgar wins if only because I feel that Elgar is still under-rated and his profile still needs more help than DSCH. Mind you, I have them both and they're wonderful recordings.

I'm ashamed to say I don't know the Dutilleux.

[wzg]

Honestly I prefer Vaughan Williams... Any tips on getting into Elgar?

[visualnickmos]

Honestly I prefer Vaughan Williams... Any tips on getting into Elgar?

Violin concerto, with Zukerman/Barenboim. That should do the trick!

[Pianorak]

Violin concerto, with Zukerman/Barenboim. That should do the trick!

Love the violin concerto, but didn't do it for me. My loss no doubt.

[wzg]

Violin concerto, with Zukerman/Barenboim. That should do the trick!

Thank you. Seems you like Barenboim's Elgar...

[hafod]

Which do you think will win??

Personally, I couldn't care less. It is like comparing chalk and cheese and serves imv no useful purpose whatsoever.
Too much these days is made 'competititive' - just sit back and enjoy what is on offer.

[Serial_Apologist]

Honestly I prefer Vaughan Williams... Any tips on getting into Elgar?

Everything people either love or hate about Elgar's music, from the sweep of swaggering bombast to clenched fist nightmarish self-doubt, from posturing imperial grandiosity to the tenderest intimacy, from obeisance to orthodoxy to the outer reaches of chromatic expressivity for a British composer of his generation, are to be found in the Second Symphony.

[visualnickmos]

Thank you. Seems you like Barenboim's Elgar...

Yes - I suppose that is a logical follow-on, although I don't know his Elgar symphonies - waiting for a price drop! I am keen to eventually hear them.
Got enough to listen to until it happens!

[visualnickmos]

Personally, I couldn't care less. It is like comparing chalk and cheese and serves imv no useful purpose whatsoever.
Too much these days is made 'competitive' - just sit back and enjoy what is on offer.

I agree; in music - as in all creative fields, the concept of "best" doesn't really exist. Popularity is certainly NOT an indicator of quality!

[wzg]

Everything people either love or hate about Elgar's music, ..., are to be found in the Second Symphony.

Thank you, though it doesn't sound like a piece for a beginner of Elgar...

[jayne lee wilson]

I would love the Morlot Dutilleux recording to win, I love Dutilleux and this is an exceptional additional to the catalogue. Excellent 2nd Symphony, musically & technically stunning, but Augustin Hadelich's reading of L'Arbre des Songes is quite extraordinary, out on its own really! And at least there'd be some point to raising awareness of great & less familiar music, and one of the less vaunted American orchestras showing an innovative approach to concert & recording choices. So it's Seattle Symphony Media for me!...

[EdgeleyRob]

Everything people either love or hate about Elgar's music, from the sweep of swaggering bombast to clenched fist nightmarish self-doubt, from posturing imperial grandiosity to the tenderest intimacy, from obeisance to orthodoxy to the outer reaches of chromatic expressivity for a British composer of his generation, are to be found in the Second Symphony.

[EdgeleyRob]

Thank you, though it doesn't sound like a piece for a beginner of Elgar...

If the 2nd Symphony seems a bit daunting try something like Wand of Youth Suites,Enigma Variations or Sea Pictures.
If they float your boat then try the chamber music and then take on the Symphonies and Concertos.

[Petrushka]

Difficult to choose between the Elgar and DSCH discs as I haven't heard the Dutilleux but in the end come down on the side of Barenboim's Elgar 1, a quite outstanding disc and performance.