BaL 01.06.2024 - Elgar: Symphony 1

[HighlandDougie]

Listening - in the car just now - to Radio 3 with Tom Service talking to Alexander Soddy, which was illustrated with the final movement of Elgar 1 conducted by Soddy, reminded me of how much I enjoy the performance. Probably a bit brisk for the OFs but with a real sense of it being something new and thrilling at the time. Lovely recording as well.

[smittims]

We're lucky to have so many fine Elgar 1's these days, though it has to be said that many of today's coductors are 'standing on the shoulders of giants'. Tadaaki Otaaka has given many fine renderings of it, and among my favourites are two off-air performances by the BBC Philharmonic with Vassily Sinaisky and Gary Walker,the latter recorded in Kendal of all places.

[bluestateprommer]

That's a very fair point. I've never understood the attacks on JB's Elgar. In my just-finished book on Elgar and Boult (coming out next year), I've included a chapter at the end which extols the virtues of Barbirolli as well – it's always struck me as pointless (daft even) to denigrate the one at the expense of the other as they were both such great Elgarians.

And speaking of said book :) , Boydell & Brewer's page on it:

https://boydellandbrewer.com/9781837652204/edward-elgar-and-adrian-boult/

I'm guessing that this is much in the spirit of your previous book on RVW and Adrian Boult (or ACB, if we want to go with initials all the way).

[smittims]

What a nice picture on the cover, which I had not seen before. I guess it was taken in Studio One at Abbey Road on 7 October 1932 when they shared a session with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Elgar recording the first two Pomp and Circumstance marches and Boult three Hungarian Dances and the Freischutz overture.

[makropulos]

What a nice picture on the cover, which I had not seen before. I guess it was taken in Studio One at Abbey Road on 7 October 1932 when they shared a session with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Elgar recording the first two Pomp and Circumstance marches and Boult three Hungarian Dances and the Freischutz overture.

Smittims, you're incredibly close. it was taken at Abbey Road on 30 May 1932 when Boult conducted the first recording (and performance) of the Elgar Funeral March orchestration – and the Brahms Tragic Overture. It's the only surviving photograph of the two of them together. Glad you like it.

[makropulos]

And speaking of said book :) , Boydell & Brewer's page on it:

https://boydellandbrewer.com/9781837652204/edward-elgar-and-adrian-boult/

I'm guessing that this is much in the spirit of your previous book on RVW and Adrian Boult (or ACB, if we want to go with initials all the way).

Thanks for posting the cover. Yes, it's along similar lines to the RVW/Boult book, though the personal story of Boult and Elgar is very different, and quite intriguing.

[smittims]

Thanks! I didn't know Elgar was present at the 'Chopin' session.