Elgar- In the South

[Barbirollians]

Listening to it again this morning I wondered is there any other recording that comes close ( studio that is - there is a cracking live account from Barbirolli very near the end of his life) ro the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Constantin Silvestri ?

Any other faves ? What do you think of the Silvestri - it always lifts my spirits.

[LMcD]

Listening to it again this morning I wondered is there any other recording that comes close ( studio that is - there is a cracking live account from Barbirolli very near the end of his life) ro the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Constantin Silvestri ?

Any other faves ? What do you think of the Silvestri - it always lifts my spirits.

I have the Naxos recording (8.553564) with the Bournemouth Symphony under George Hurst - the other works being the Enigma Variations and the Coronation March. It was recorded at the Wessex Hall in the Poole Arts Centre. I also have the BBCSO under Leonard Slatkin, which is on the BBC MM recording of Boult's Elgar 1st symphony at the 1976 Proms.

[gurnemanz]

I only got to know this work quite late via a bargain Warner Apex disc with Andrew Davis and BBCSO. I bought it for the Second Symphony and In the South was an excellent and very generous filler. It became a favourite work by Elgar, who doesn't always appeal to me. It is still the only recording I have but we have heard it in concert.

We had a marvellous holiday in Liguria on the Italian Riveria courtesy of an Italian colleague at work who had an apartment there which she was happy to rent out to friends. Lovely area and we spent a pleasant afternoon in the town of Alassio which inspired the work.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Listening to it again this morning I wondered is there any other recording that comes close ( studio that is - there is a cracking live account from Barbirolli very near the end of his life) ro the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Constantin Silvestri ?

Any other faves ? What do you think of the Silvestri - it always lifts my spirits.

A work I fell in instant love with as a teenager and spent some of my first pay-packet on in 1972 (the Silvestri LP of course!*). Since then just a few more have been added (Elgar's own, Bournemouth SO/ Hurst, Barbirolli live, Solti, Boult (1940s, '50s and '70s HMV versions) but it's the Silvestri I'd save from the fire. (Plus the Barbirolli if I've any got space in my paws...)

* Think it was the only one in the catalogue back then but it was the one I'd heard on the radio, and anyway the BSO was my local band!

[Petrushka]

LPO/Solti for me. Terrific performance in thrilling Decca sound. Next would be the very fine BBCSO/Andrew Davis.

[Pulcinella]

Silvestri and the BBC MM Slatkin here: no need for another.

But I can well imagine no shortage of fine performances.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have several, but the best by far for me is the Vienna Philharmonic with JEG. I wouldn't have thought this was an ideal combination for Elgar, but I find that it excels in every way.

[Edgy 2]

LPO/Solti for me. Terrific performance in thrilling Decca sound. Next would be the very fine BBCSO/Andrew Davis.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Pet, EA and Edgy (and others): could we know what other recorded performances you own or know well? Do Solti or JEG or Sir AD really knock spots off, say, Silvestri and Barbirolli in your considered opinion?

[Petrushka]

Pet, EA and Edgy (and others): could we know what other recorded performances you own or know well? Do Solti or JEG or Sir AD really knock spots off, say, Silvestri and Barbirolli in your considered opinion?

Confess that I don't have either Silvestri or Barbirolli so will try to rectify. However, I do have, in addition to Solti and Davis, Slatkin (x2), Sinopoli and Elgar himself.

It's the old BaL conundrum of failing to listen to all versions again isn't it? Just a matter of opinion.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Just a matter of opinion.

Yep, it's always that. But I, and presumably Barbs as OP, would very much like to know if anyone thinks that a newer version really has relegated Silvestri and Barbirolli to the 2nd div!

[cloughie]

Yep, it's always that. But I, and presumably Barbs as OP, would very much like to know if anyone thinks that a newer version really has relegated Silvestri and Barbirolli to the 2nd div!

Or even an older version. Two by Boult, one by Gibson and for a newer one Mark Elder!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Pet, EA and Edgy (and others): could we know what other recorded performances you own or know well? Do Solti or JEG or Sir AD really knock spots off, say, Silvestri and Barbirolli in your considered opinion?

I have Elgar x 2, Solti, Barbirolli, Gibson and JEG.
I did once have the Silvestri on LP, but it didn't find it as exceptional as some do.
Solti - not so keen on his Elgar (apart from Cockaigne, which he did superbly).
Gibson - altogether magnificent, and a close runner-up to JEG.
Barbirolli - always a fan of his Elgar, but in this instance, only in a very good 3rd place.

[Barbirollians]

I have the Elder good but not in the Silvestri class IMO.

Tempted to get hold of the Gibson - his recordings are all too often underrated.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Or even an older version. Two by Boult, one by Gibson and for a newer one Mark Elder!

Well, Gibson is suddenly making a brilliant late run from left-field (Alpie's #13)

PS Just visited the jungle marketplace: £30+