BaL 4.01.20 - Elgar: Enigma Variations

[gradus]

I hesitate to add another Barbirolli CD to the list, as this one is definitely "not available," unless you can fork out $150.99 for a copy! ... It's on a 2-CD 'Arkadia' set where he conducted "Gerontius" in Rome in 1957, with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della Rai and soloists Jon Vickers, Constance Shacklock and Marian Nowakowski. The "Enigma Variations" in the same set comes from another 1957 broadcast, this time with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della Rai. As these broadcasts are well out-of-copyright under the EU's Directive on Sound Recordings, dated 1 November 2013, I'm surprised these performances haven't been reissued. If the current asking price for the old 'Arkadia' Set is $150.99, it's about time someone brought out a newly-remastered edition! ...

https://www.amazon.com/Elgar-Gerontius-Variazioni-Originale-Sinfonia/dp/B00008EP16

If you've not heard Jon Vickers as Gerontius in this Italian performance, click the link below. Incidentally, the RAI Chorus sings the work as if it were Verdi and they sound just great, as indeed does Vickers ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asxrWBVnfrs

How deeply moving, Vickers faith somehow informs the performance. It had me in tears. Many thanks for posting it.

[Alison]

Mackerras/LPO (originally EMI) doesn't seem to be on the original list (his other two recordings are) –but it is available as part of the ICON box of Mackerras recordings. It's been my favourite Enigma for many years, alongside Eugen Jochum's DG recording with the LSO. Both are affectionate and sensitive, but never fussy, and both are brisk and exciting where they need to be. As well as many others (Boult several times, Barbirolli, Monteux) I'm pretty happy with my stash of Enigmas. It'll be interesting to see where the discussion leads.

Thanks Makro, I’ve just received the ICON box, a delightful bargain. If the LPO version gets selected this will surely sell like hot cakes.

[Zucchini]

How deeply moving, Vickers faith somehow informs the performance. It had me in tears. Many thanks for posting it.

Me too
I'm still shaking ...

[Edgy 2]

I hesitate to add another Barbirolli CD to the list, as this one is definitely "not available," unless you can fork out $150.99 for a copy! ... It's on a 2-CD 'Arkadia' set where he conducted "Gerontius" in Rome in 1957, with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della Rai and soloists Jon Vickers, Constance Shacklock and Marian Nowakowski. The "Enigma Variations" in the same set comes from another 1957 broadcast, this time with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della Rai. As these broadcasts are well out-of-copyright under the EU's Directive on Sound Recordings, dated 1 November 2013, I'm surprised these performances haven't been reissued. If the current asking price for the old 'Arkadia' Set is $150.99, it's about time someone brought out a newly-remastered edition! ...

https://www.amazon.com/Elgar-Gerontius-Variazioni-Originale-Sinfonia/dp/B00008EP16

If you've not heard Jon Vickers as Gerontius in this Italian performance, click the link below. Incidentally, the RAI Chorus sings the work as if it were Verdi and they sound just great, as indeed does Vickers ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asxrWBVnfrs

Oh my word !

Thank you

[vibratoforever]

I hesitate to add another Barbirolli CD to the list, as this one is definitely "not available," unless you can fork out $150.99 for a copy! ... It's on a 2-CD 'Arkadia' set where he conducted "Gerontius" in Rome in 1957, with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della Rai and soloists Jon Vickers, Constance Shacklock and Marian Nowakowski. The "Enigma Variations" in the same set comes from another 1957 broadcast, this time with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della Rai. As these broadcasts are well out-of-copyright under the EU's Directive on Sound Recordings, dated 1 November 2013, I'm surprised these performances haven't been reissued. If the current asking price for the old 'Arkadia' Set is $150.99, it's about time someone brought out a newly-remastered edition! ...

https://www.amazon.com/Elgar-Gerontius-Variazioni-Originale-Sinfonia/dp/B00008EP16

If you've not heard Jon Vickers as Gerontius in this Italian performance, click the link below. Incidentally, the RAI Chorus sings the work as if it were Verdi and they sound just great, as indeed does Vickers ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asxrWBVnfrs

The Gerontius was released on Archipel and seems to be available from Presto for little money.

Of Barbirolli's Enigmas, I especially like the 1956 Halle version, and an HDTT download has excellent sonics.

[seabright]

Thanks vibratoforever for the heads up on the Archipel "Gerontius" release. This pair of CDs has the Berlioz "Fantastique" (Halle Orchestra 1947 from HMV 78s) as the only "filler," though it's not mentioned on the CD cover. The 'Presto' site says that the CDs are "currently out of stock" but there's an MP3 download option shown for £15.98 ...

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7964455--elgar-the-dream-of-gerontius

The comments under the YouTube clip state that Vickers was "absolutely magnificent" and that "no-one could do this better." He never recorded it commercially but I wonder how often he performed it. I guess if there'd been any other off-the-air performances with Vickers in the part, we'd know about them by now.

[BBMmk2]

I trying think what versions I have!!!

[Barbirollians]

VF identifies the Barbirolli I meant.

[makropulos]

Thanks Makro, I’ve just received the ICON box, a delightful bargain. If the LPO version gets selected this will surely sell like hot cakes.

So glad you've got hold of the ICON box while it's still around (it is a terrific bargain isn't it?). The more I listen, the more that Enigma is right at the top of my own list –as is the Falstaff that was the original coupling.

[BBMmk2]

I trying think what versions I have!!!

From what I can see from this massive list I have the
Halle/Barbirolli
BBCSO/Andrew Davis
Halle/Elder
LPO/Boult
also Eric Ball’s fine transcription for brass band played by
Black Dyke Band/Dr N J Childs

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

From what I can see from this massive list I have the
Halle/Barbirolli
BBCSO/Andrew Davis
Halle/Elder
LPO/Boult
also Eric Ball’s fine transcription for brass band played by
Black Dyke Band/Dr N J Childs

I have more recordings of this work than any other (with just one exception). All but one is in storage at present, so I can't give a definitive list. But it includes every Barbirolli recording and a piano solo version, as well as a host of others.

There's something about Sargent's EDU variation that stands out - a natural flow that's sometimes missing.

[Darloboy]

One of the amazon.co.uk customer reviews claims that the Variations with the Philharmonia are/were on this disc: ASIN: B000005GUE. This despite the ordering of the orchestras on the cover:



Whether or not the same applies to:



it seems likely that both issues have the recording you seek.

Ah. See also the customer reviews here.

I have that EMI Studio CD (it was actually BaL choice for Falstaff way back in June 1992) and can confirm that the Enigma Variations is the 1962 Philharmonia recording.

[Darloboy]

LSO / Boult 1970 and the earlier Halle/Barbirolli for me.

The LSO/Boult was 1st choice last time out (July 2001) with Elgar's own 1926 recording as historic choice

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The LSO/Boult was 1st choice last time out (July 2001) with Elgar's own 1926 recording as historic choice

Elgar's 1926 recording is actually quite scrappily played, though admittedly a recording of supreme value. I do like Harty's recording - the first one I ever heard (on 78s).

[verismissimo]

It's Solti/CSO for me. Just saying.