Prom 61 (29.8.12): Howells & Elgar

[Pabmusic]

Missed it live on the radio, watched the tv transmission last night - loved it! Definitely one of the best Proms. Also blown away by the Elgar, which I don't know. We have a recommendation for the Howells, is there one for the Elgar?

How can you not have known it? Never mind. First performed by Hans Richter* and the Halle on 4th December 1908 at Manchester Town Hall, it received at least 88 performances in its first year of existence (it's often said that there were over 100 performances) - there's quite simply no other large-scale work that can boast such a record - nowhere near it.

I'd suggest you ought to have more than one performance (it's that sort of piece), in which case I'd recommend:

Boult/BBC SO (live, 1976), Boult/LPO (1977), Barbirolli/Halle (1956) or Handley/LPO (1980);
Solti/LPO (1972), Judd/Halle (1990) or Elder/Halle (2001);
Elgar/LSO (1930)

*Richter's speech to the orchestra at the first rehearsal included "We are now going to play the greatest symphony of modern times, by the greatest composer of modern times - and not just in this country".

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I second Pab's recommendations of Elgar himself, Solti and Handley (I don't know the others well enough) and would add Barbirolli's last "Live" recording with the Hallé (performed a few days before he died).

[BBMmk2]

Barbiroll(studio recording)i, Boult.......

[Northender]

I agree with the recommendations to date, some of which I have in my collection, and would add Haitink/Philharmonia on EMI (if it's still available).
I'm not sure which is greater - my amazement that Anna didn't know this great work, or my mixture of joy and envy at the wonderment that surely accompanied her discovery of it.

[Nick Armstrong]

is there one for the Elgar?

To start with just one, Anna, I'd plump for one I don't think is mentioned about: Boult with the LPO on the Lyrita label. (I think the Boult/LPO recommendation above is a later EMI one). This is from the late 60s. I had a real 'go' at Elgar 1 a few years ago. This is the one I keep coming back to!

It and the performance of No 2 which accompanies it were among the great revelations of the last 10 years for me - wonderful interpretations, and recordings (even though not bang up to date): good price here at MDT http://www.mdt.co.uk/elgar-symphony-...rita-2cds.html

[Pabmusic]

...I'm not sure which is greater - my amazement that Anna didn't know this great work, or my mixture of joy and envy at the wonderment that surely accompanied her discovery of it.

[Anna]

my amazement that Anna didn't know this great work

I am not amazed! I've only just getting into Elgar and the only Elgar I have is Elder/Halle with Enigma, Cockcaigne, etc. But then I only got into RVW last year .......... I'll have a look at all recommendations, thanks.

[Serial_Apologist]

I am not amazed! I've only just getting into Elgar and the only Elgar I have is Elder/Halle with Enigma, Cockcaigne, etc. But then I only got into RVW last year .......... I'll have a look at all recommendations, thanks.

Having noted your growing awareness of British music of the 1st half of the 20th century as represented by your posts on here, Anna, I can only echo what Northender has stated above. As with other kinds of music (as I say to jazz newcomers ), once the right point of entry is located, inside what once may have looked like a Tardis is a treasure house of gifts.

[Nick Armstrong]

wonderful interpretations, and recordings (even though not bang up to date): good price here at MDT http://www.mdt.co.uk/elgar-symphony-...rita-2cds.html

Just gave this a quick whirl again... Fabulous sound, the tremendous, turbulent, triumphant conclusion to the fourth movement just addictive!! Sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday...

[Anna]

Having noted your growing awareness of British music of the 1st half of the 20th century as represented by your posts on here, Anna

So I'm not just a pretty face? The Elgar/Elder/Halle I have was a gift from my neighbour whose uncle played for the Halle. Most of his cds are by them (because of loyalty) so as there are 3 Halle in the recommendations and he is an Elgar fan I think I'll ask him if he has any of them that I can initially borrow.

[Pabmusic]

Just gave this a quick whirl again... Fabulous sound, the tremendous, turbulent, triumphant conclusion to the fourth movement just addictive!! Sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday...

Can I add that the Lyrita recordings of the Elgar symphonies are very fine indeed. For some reason, the orchestra (LSO) was set up in 'modern' fashion, with all violins on the left. Boult was incensed, yet Lyrita wouldn't alter it (I believe these were Boult's first Lyrita recordings, and they didn't understand him!) and the sessions are said to have an extra 'edge' because of it. Boult wrote to the Times, complaining about it!

[Nick Armstrong]

Can I add that the Lyrita recordings of the Elgar symphonies are very fine indeed. For some reason, the orchestra (LSO) was set up in 'modern' fashion, with all violins on the left. Boult was incensed, yet Lyrita wouldn't alter it (these were Boult's first Lyrita recordings) and the sessions are said to have an extra 'edge' because of it. Boult wrote to the Times, complaining about it!

LPO, pabs, LPO!

[Pabmusic]

LPO, pabs, LPO!

Oh, I am ashamed (I'm doing this off the top of my head, but...)

[Nick Armstrong]

Oh, I am ashamed (I'm doing this off the top of my head, but...)

[amateur51]

Can I add that the Lyrita recordings of the Elgar symphonies are very fine indeed. For some reason, the orchestra (LSO) was set up in 'modern' fashion, with all violins on the left. Boult was incensed, yet Lyrita wouldn't alter it (I believe these were Boult's first Lyrita recordings, and they didn't understand him!) and the sessions are said to have an extra 'edge' because of it. Boult wrote to the Times, complaining about it!

Interesting post, Pabs.)

I don't know this recording - is the 'edge' a positive quality? .. or have the mics picked up a Muttley-like muttering from Sir Adrian?