EMI Elgar Edition

[Guest]

I like Elgar's music but am unfamiliar with quite a lot of it: this fabled CD box from the early 90s contains all of Sir EE's EMI recordings (did he record for anyone else?), in which he explores not just his greatest hits, but some of the nooks and crannies of his repertoire as well.

I'm currently listening to his recording of the 1st Symphony on Spotify: it seems to have a coherence and an absence of stodge that sets it apart from some other versions I've heard.

Is this box worth getting, even for the non-diehard Elgarian? Or does the boxy sound begin to get you down after a while? (Hst, aren't the transfers on this box supposed to be stunning? The first movement of S1 is sounding pretty good).

[Barbirollians]

It was only £12 recently on the HMV site = a no-brainer as they say .

[Bryn]

You exaggerate, Barbirollians, It's only £11.99.

[BBMmk2]

In my book certainly worth every penny!! Is that all it costs now?

[Dave2002]

The set from HMV is cheaper than downloading from Amazon!

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=-4380310047642535028&pGroupID=0&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=Elgar+edition&primaryID=0&btnSubmitSearch.x=84&btnSubmitSearch.y=15

[Pabmusic]

Elgar only ever recorded for HMV, but the excellent set you mention is not actually all of his recordings, because it does not include the acoustic recordings made from 1914-1925. They were available on Pearl, and I think theyve just been reissued by someone else: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Conduc...143921&sr=8-38

The only significant orchestral work that EE never recorded was the Intro & Allegro.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

We are lucky to have these recordings. I bought the LP boxes issued in the 70s, and then on CD in 3 expensive boxes.

Few composers have been served so well with their own recordings, though Britten must top the tree here.

[Pabmusic]

We are lucky to have these recordings. I bought the LP boxes issued in the 70s, and then on CD in 3 expensive boxes.

Few composers have been served so well with their own recordings, though Britten must top the tree here.

I suspect that Britten outdoes Elgar only because of the relative ease of 'modern' recording techniques. Elgar's output was released on 19 LPs or 13 CDs - quite a haul considering that it dates from 1914-1934 - but none of the major choral works could be tackled complete. There's about 2/3rds of Gerontius (live, at two venues), and a chorus from The Banner of St George. Britten had the luxury of being able to record whole choral and operatic works.

But it is truly wonderful that we have all their recordings.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Elgar's output was released on 19 LPs or 13 CDs - quite a haul considering that it dates from 1914-1934 -

You may well be correct if the new box of acoustic recordings has been crammed on to 4 discs, but the Pearl set was on 5 quite well-filled CDs.

[VodkaDilc]

We are lucky to have these recordings. I bought the LP boxes issued in the 70s, and then on CD in 3 expensive boxes.

Few composers have been served so well with their own recordings, though Britten must top the tree here.

The Complete Stravinsky Edition must equal the recorded legacy of Britten and Elgar. (Like Eine A/S I also have the original Elgar CD boxes - worth every penny!)

[Petrushka]

I also have the three expensive CD boxes that came out in the early 1990's and agree wholeheartedly re the 1st Symphony. Impossible to believe that this was set down in four minute segments so wonderful is the sense of sweep and grandeur about the whole thing and I just get caught up in it without thinking that it dates from 1930.

At the absurdly low price now on offer it's a giveaway.

[Pabmusic]

You may well be correct if the new box of acoustic recordings has been crammed on to 4 discs, but the Pearl set was on 5 quite well-filled CDs.

Forgive me if my memory is at fault - I'm not at home and can't check. I had it in my mind that the Pearl was 5 CDs, and the three Elgar Edition boxes totalled 8 CDs. But my memory ...

[Mandryka]

Forgive me if my memory is at fault - I'm not at home and can't check. I had it in my mind that the Pearl was 5 CDs, and the three Elgar Edition boxes totalled 8 CDs. But my memory ...

The current EMI Complete Electrical Recordings box runs to 9 CDs.

[makropulos]

The current EMI Complete Electrical Recordings box runs to 9 CDs.

Indeed...and the Music & Arts acoustic set is on 4 discs containing almost 5 hours of music. I've been listening to it this afternoon and it's fascinating (I don't have the earlier Pearl version).

[Barbirollians]

Now of course the Warner Edition but what a wonderful box this is . The First Symphony is indeed particularly terrific as are the famous recordings of the concertos.