Great Elgar recordings

[LaurieWatt]

Indeed, get pestering them !!!

Believe me, I have been! I will keep doing so!

[pastoralguy]

I also have what Andrew Neill, former Chair for many years of the Elgar Society, described as one of the 'finest ever performances' of the Violin Concerto, which I taped from a Prom in the late 1970's with Ida Haendel, the BBCSO and Haitink. It is by far my favourite performance of this concerto and I hope one day to persuade ICA Classics to take it...

Please, please, please keep trying!!!!

[Parry1912]

I also have what Andrew Neill, former Chair for many years of the Elgar Society, described as one of the 'finest ever performances' of the Violin Concerto, which I taped from a Prom in the late 1970's with Ida Haendel, the BBCSO and Haitink. It is by far my favourite performance of this concerto and I hope one day to persuade ICA Classics to take it...

I didn't hear that one but I do remember an excellent one by Itzhak Perlman at the Proms in 1981 or therabouts.

[pastoralguy]

I didn't hear that one but I do remember an excellent one by Itzhak Perlman at the Proms in 1981 or therabouts.

There is a wonderful DVD of that performance available on DVD. It's not, perhaps, the most idiomatic interpretation of this wonderful piece but, my goodness, what fiddle playing! Just wonderful.

[amateur51]

There is a wonderful DVD of that performance available on DVD. It's not, perhaps, the most idiomatic interpretation of this wonderful piece but, my goodness, what fiddle playing! Just wonderful.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ITZHAK-PERLMAN-ELGAR-PROKOFIEV-VIOLIN-CONCERTOS/dp/B003B95BOM/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

To date, I haven't found a really satisfactory recording of The Music Makers. The Boult one has the matchless Janet Baker, but the choral singing is decidedly rough in places. On the other hand the Hickox has fine choral singing, but also has Felicity Palmer, of whom I'm not exactly a fan.

[Petrushka]

I didn't hear that one but I do remember an excellent one by Itzhak Perlman at the Proms in 1981 or therabouts.

July 23 1981. I was at that performance but have unaccountably failed to get the DVD. Will put that right asap!

The Haendel/Haitink Prom (I wasn't there alas) was September 14 1978.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

To date, I haven't found a really satisfactory recording of The Music Makers. The Boult one has the matchless Janet Baker, but the choral singing is decidedly rough in places. On the other hand the Hickox has fine choral singing, but also has Felicity Palmer, of whom I'm not exactly a fan.

Have you tried the Hallé/Elder recording, Alpie?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edward-Elgar-Froissart-Children-Makers/dp/B000A39KHQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1370985662&sr=1-4&keywords=elgar%2C+music+makers

[VodkaDilc]

I agree with almost all the recordings nominated. Just two I'd like to add: The Mackerras/LPO Enigma (stunning organ in the finale) and the Ledger Coronation Ode (demonstration audio quality on my old LP, though I now have it coupled with Boult's Kingdom on CD).

And I know it's a minority opinion, but I enjoy Bernstein's Enigma when I'm in the right mood. (Perhaps because I recall the television version of the performance, which I found very moving.)

[gradus]

Off the beaten track but a recording of Arthur's Passage to Avalon (from the incidental music to King Arthur) taken from a radio broadcast by Jerrold Northrop Moore twenty or so years ago. The music is powerful and moving but for some reason never played in the concert hall. There is a recording of the suite by George Hurst and the Bournemouth Sinfonia but the radio performance was I think by the BBC Phil, conductor unknown.

[Beef Oven]

I agree with almost all the recordings nominated. Just two I'd like to add: The Mackerras/LPO Enigma (stunning organ in the finale) and the Ledger Coronation Ode (demonstration audio quality on my old LP, though I now have it coupled with Boult's Kingdom on CD).

And I know it's a minority opinion, but I enjoy Bernstein's Enigma when I'm in the right mood. (Perhaps because I recall the television version of the performance, which I found very moving.)

The Bernstein Enigma Vars is a real challenge. But in the right mood it hits the spot!

[Pabmusic]

Off the beaten track but a recording of Arthur's Passage to Avalon (from the incidental music to King Arthur) taken from a radio broadcast by Jerrold Northrop Moore twenty or so years ago. The music is powerful and moving but for some reason never played in the concert hall. There is a recording of the suite by George Hurst and the Bournemouth Sinfonia but the radio performance was I think by the BBC Phil, conductor unknown.

Much of the King Arthur music was pinched for the third symphony project, and I for one regret that the Avalon music didn't become the end of Anthony Payne's reconstruction.

[Barbirollians]

Barbirolli's live Elgar In the South on BBC legends( the only other performance in the Silvestri league ) , the King's Lynn 1970 Elgar 1 only days before he died - also must be close to the top of my list

[Pabmusic]

Barbirolli's live Elgar In the South on BBC legends( the only other performance in the Silvestri league )...

Yes indeed though I'd put Hickox's up there with both.

[BBMmk2]

Have you tried the Hallé/Elder recording, Alpie?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edward-Elgar...C+music+makers

Thank yhou Ferney for that! Hmmm, money!?!?!?