Prom 1 (13.7.12): First Night of the Proms

[Anna]

Why do some people have a problem with Elgar's Cockaigne? I love it - a perfect concert opener. What's not to like about it?

The only Cockaigne I have is Mark Elder and the Halle. I think it's worth a repeated play.

[Alison]

Sir Roger charted the twists and turns of Cockaigne superbly. It's one of his party pieces.

No complaints from me this time.

[Nick Armstrong]

The only Cockaigne I have is Mark Elder and the Halle. I think it's worth a repeated play.

I thought I had that too, Anna, but I just looked and the one I have is in the same series from Elder/The Hallé, Froissart plus The Music Makers etc...

[Anna]

I thought I had that too, Anna, but I just looked

It's a cd of Enigma Variations, Serenade of Strings, Cockaigne, Chanson de Martin and Original Finale to Engma. Given to me by neighbour whose Uncle played for Halle.

[Serial_Apologist]

The recording I have of Cockaigne is the one my father bought many years ago: the RPO under Beecham, coupling with Enigma and the Serenade, on Columbia. The record is sadly "ploughed" beyond playable, and I have kept it for what is probably my favourite LP cover, showing Elgar, centre, reading a score, surrounded by photos of all the characters portrayed in Enigma - GRS with his bulldog. Absolutely wonderful.

[salymap]

The recording I have of Cockaigne is the one my father bought many years ago: the RPO under Beecham, coupling with Enigma and the Serenade, on Columbia. The record is sadly "ploughed" beyond playable, and I have kept it for what is probably my favourite LP cover, showing Elgar, centre, reading a score, surrounded by photos of all the characters portrayed in Enigma - GRS with his bulldog. Absolutely wonderful.

I've seen that cover somewhere S-A but I'm sure I've never had a recording of Beecham conducting Elgar. Ithink the pictures of the characters comes from a book about the Enigmas I used to own.

[EdgeleyRob]

Why do some people have a problem with Elgar's Cockaigne? I love it - a perfect concert opener. What's not to like about it?

I love it,just thought last nights performance was a bit routine.
I have a few recording including a great version on here -

[David Underdown]

In the hall I found Cockaigne rather uninvolving (and it damn near fell apart at least once) - and I do wish Norrington would stop turning and gurning at the audience. It's exactly the same gesture every time. Sea Drift came close to convincing me Deliys might have something worthwhile to say. The Tippett was a charming little piece do far as I was concerned. The Coronation Ode is never going to be a masterpiece but I was glad to have an opportunity to hear it. For those wondering about the references to strife etc might like to consider when Edward VIII was crowned, and when the (2nd) Boer Wat ended

[Northender]

I love it,just thought last nights performance was a bit routine.
I have a few recording including a great version on here -

The Concerto's pretty good, too!

[EdgeleyRob]

The Concerto's pretty good, too!

Indeed.

[Osborn]

What on earth was the superb Canadian, Gerald Finley doing amongst all this mediocrity (incl chorus & orchestra & compositions & conductors). He must, like me, have been losng the will to live. To recall what great music & magnificent musicmaking is like I watched some of the recent Coventry Cathedral War Requiem afterwards. Just incredible; I felt better then.

[Barbirollians]

Barbirolli in Cockaigne surely ! Unsurpassed.

I don't think he ever matched Boult in Enigma though but I digress .

[jayne lee wilson]

Intrigued by the critical reactions here I just listened to RN's Cockaigne again...sorry, but I still thought it was lovely, the supposed extremes of tempi only making the range of mood, from dreamy sensuousness to swaggering brilliance, the more vivid. Nice humour in the wind solos too. It refreshed a piece I'd all but written off, so I'm still surprised by those dismissals, but I guess most here will feel that life's too short to hear Cockaigne twice, and, as I've just proved, listeners rarely shift their opinions (especially after a dismissal).

There's more than a bit of the devil in RN, maybe he wanted to contradict the general view of him. Here he was as a True Romantic...

Can only reiterate what I said earlier and agree with Edgeleyrob and Alison about the elusive, utterly original masterpiece that is Sea Drift.

One of my first LPs included Ormandy and the Philadelphians with Cockaigne, lovely lush green pastoral scene on its cover.
But yes, if you want a recording, Barbirolli would be hard to match, let alone surpass.

[Petrushka]

Barbirolli in Cockaigne surely ! Unsurpassed.

I don't think he ever matched Boult in Enigma though but I digress .

That EMI LP coupling of Barbirolli's Cockaigne and Enigma was my introduction to both works and holds a very special place in my affections.

[MrGongGong]

Intrigued by the critical reactions here I just listened to RN's Cockaigne again....

As I just did
and I really don't get it at all
even though a couple of my friends are in the orchestra and it's nice to see them on TV
it really doesn't do anything for me .......................... like most of Elgar (with a few notable exceptions)