Elgar Symphony No.1: A Quandary

[Guest]

I have read through this thread with interest as I'm interested in procuring a new version of Elgar's First Symphony. I wanted to pick MBers brains about a few available versions. I currently only have Barbirolli in an Elgar EMI box set.

I can't decide between three versions.

i) Colin Davis/Staatskapelle Dresden
ii) Richard Hickox/BBC National Orchestra of Wales
iii) Sir Adrian Boult, Proms (ICA Classics)

I have heard all the works via Qobuz, and all are of a comparable price. I have a soft spot for Boult because it's the piece that persuaded me after repeat listens on a recent train journey that Elgar's symphonies merited all the comments on the 'goosebumps' thread. I hadn't listened to them until that point. The energy of this live account is really palpable.

The Hickox sounds like a good account in modern sound.

I'd also like to know why Colin Davis divides opinion here so much. Is it because of excessive rubato? I can imagine why his very slow 'nobilmente' theme in the LSO version might annoy Elgar fans. How do people here feel about his Staatskapelle Dresden version, which is very driven with huge timpani and brass. Is this still Elgar or some Frankensteinian Elgar with Beethoven's Romantic muscles?

[amateur51]

The Boult is a small miracle because Sir Adrian was very elderly by the time of this performance and yet the orchestra plays as if possessed and the roar from the Proms audience is entirely justified. Not for every day listening, I'd suggest - save it for special occasions.

I think I'm right in saying that the Davis/Staatskapelle was a BaL choice a while back.

Sir Colin is controversial principally because he likes to sing along and sometimes the mics catch this - I love it but others are appalled

[Thropplenoggin]

I think I'm right in saying that the Davis/Staatskapelle was a BaL choice a while back.

Yes. Indeed, Cheapskater has rather miraculously (and very kindly!) provided a link to the script of that BaL. I'm hoping a host will move those replies to this thread.

Sir Colin is controversial principally because he likes to sing along and sometimes the mics catch this - I love it but others are appalled

Ah, the ol' Gould Vocal Obbligato Syndrome.

[Karafan]

Well, Thropplenoggin, my vote goes to the Dresdeners under Sir Colin. It's hugely life-affirming, and though I have Boult and several others, it is always this (or if I am in poignant mood, JB's last reading in King's Lynn) I play. Sir Colin is a shade quicker in all movements in Germany:
LSO I: 21m 00s Dresden 19m 30s
LSO II: 7m 52s Dresden 7m 23s
LSO III: 12m 47s Dresden 12m 27s
LSO IV: 12m 45s Dresden 11m 55s

Not that the tale of the tape is all. The sound caught by the Haenssler engineering team at the Semperoper is glorious, the Barbican less so. Sir Colin was in *ahem* good voice on both nights, so nothing to compare there. I don't know just what it boils down to exactly. Could it be the freshness that glows from the Dresden recording is from keenly attentive players tackling a piece they surely can't be overfamiliar with? Maybe the gods were simply in confluence that night, but all I can say is when the need for Elgar 1 wells up in me, as it often does, it's the Dresden disc I reach for.

I'll be interested to hear the thoughts of the other posters.

K.

[Pabmusic]

I have read through this thread with interest as I'm interested in procuring a new version of Elgar's First Symphony. I wanted to pick MBers brains about a few available versions. I currently only have Barbirolli in an Elgar EMI box set.

I can't decide between three versions.

i) Colin Davis/Staatskapelle Dresden
ii) Richard Hickox/BBC National Orchestra of Wales
iii) Sir Adrian Boult, Proms (ICA Classics)

I have heard all the works via Qobuz, and all are of a comparable price. I have a soft spot for Boult because it's the piece that persuaded me after repeat listens on a recent train journey that Elgar's symphonies merited all the comments on the 'goosebumps' thread. I hadn't listened to them until that point. The energy of this live account is really palpable.

The Hickox sounds like a good account in modern sound.

I'd also like to know why Colin Davis divides opinion here so much. Is it because of excessive rubato? I can imagine why his very slow 'nobilmente' theme in the LSO version might annoy Elgar fans. How do people here feel about his Staatskapelle Dresden version, which is very driven with huge timpani and brass. Is this still Elgar or some Frankensteinian Elgar with Beethoven's Romantic muscles?

EDIT:

I originally posted this in BBM's Elgar Symhonies thread, but I felt it was in danger of becoming buried in the thread without much discussion. Perhaps some kind Host could transfer Petrushka's and Cheapskater's responses here.

If you're getting only one, get the Boult, but first remember that it was a BBCMM cover disc a few years ago, so you might have it if you get that July magazine (sorry! I meant 'that august magazine', but it didn't quite make it).

Otherwise (if you must get one of the three you name) Hickox is certainly less divisive. I would personally go for Hurst/BBC Phil (Naxos) or Judd/Halle (IMP) if you can find it.

[Cheapskater]

I've been listening to this great symphony for many years and it's probably my most-played favourite. I have probably all the versions but regularly play the Davis/Dresden account and also Sir Charles Mackerras/LSO.

BaL script for this is at -

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...s4zAG48mt2geaQ

Hope that works! Has anyone the 'podcast' for that BaL please?

[Karafan]

I've been listening to this great symphony for many years and it's probably my most-played favourite. I have probably all the versions but regularly play the Davis/Dresden account and also Sir Charles Mackerras/LSO.

BaL script for this is at -

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...s4zAG48mt2geaQ

Hope that works! Has anyone the 'podcast' for that BaL please?

Hmm link doesn't work....?

[Thropplenoggin]

BaL script for this is at -

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...s4zAG48mt2geaQ

Hope that works! Has anyone the 'podcast' for that BaL please?

I've just read through it. Many thanks for a fascinating link in a BaL I clearly missed. I imagine the reviewer's choice was controversial, given the extraneous noises by Davis, though at least the reviewer mentions them as a caveat emptor. Karafan is clearly enamoured with it. Indeed, when I first heard it, after the Boult, it sounded like a different symphony (and I didn't even notice the humming!)

How did you come by the script?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I would personally go for Hurst/BBC Phil (Naxos)

Having picked this up in a charity shop for a pound last month, I'd certainly second this: well paced, very well played and lots of superb orchestral and rhythmic detail I'd not noticed before.

Good Thread, thanks Thropple; I don't know any of the three recordings on your list.

[Karafan]

I've just read through it. Many thanks for a fascinating link in a BaL I clearly missed. I imagine the reviewer's choice was controversial, given the extraneous noises by Davis, though at least the reviewer mentions them as a caveat emptor. Karafan is clearly enamoured with it. Indeed, when I first heard it, after the Boult, it sounded like a different symphony (and I didn't even notice the humming!)

How did you come by the script?

I get "Bad error request 400" when I click...? anyone else getting this?

[Pabmusic]

I get "Bad error request 400" when I click...? anyone else getting this?

Me too.

[Thropplenoggin]

Having picked this up in a charity shop for a pound last month, I'd certainly second this: well paced, very well played and lots of superb orchestral and rhythmic detail I'd not noticed before.

I expect Davis's Dresden account would have a similar impact, FHG.

The Boult is on a label that is clearly run by someone who values listening to classical music and rescuing vintage performances: ICA Classics. I'm sure their new Géza Anda release (Tchaikovsky PC1, Brahms PC2) will be of interest to some here.

[Thropplenoggin]

I get "Bad error request 400" when I click...? anyone else getting this?

Me too. But it was working. I hope I didn't delete anything!

[Alison]

For my money the chief advantages of the Hickox are the SACD recording and the orchestrated Organ Sonata coupling.

The performance of the symphony is average or just above IMHO.

[Thropplenoggin]

Thanks to all for your responses. Very interesting to read your opinions.

Alison: I don't know the Organ Sonata. Is it good? (Oh, and what happened to ol' Boulez in this morning's BaL? So many mentions then dropped out of sight in the summation!)