Recommendation on Elgar

Superb. 

Not the only way, but it would be my choice for a stereo "studio" recording of this music. My favourite has never come out on CD, and is from Boult and the LPO in 1953/55. As a young man Boult was a friend of the aged Elgar, and Elgar commented on his conducting in 1920 of Elgar's difficult Second Symphony,

"Bless you! A wonderful series of sounds. My music is safe in you hands."

Fair to assume that Elgar regarded Boult's musicianship as top flight as he was usually loath to give compliments to anyone concerning his own music!

Other wonderful performances come from Sir John Barbirolli. Sir Malcolm Sageant, and Pierre Monteux, to mention just a few  

But you have a great recording there.

ATB from George

Thanks for the info George - much appreciated!

Give this a spin:

Elgar's cello concerto is a fantastic work. The default recommendation is Du Pre but hers is not the only great recording. Wispelwey is at his best on his Channel Classics, in superb sound. I also like the recent Decca recording with Alisa Weilerstein.

Looking beyond the well-known, Elgar wrote some impressive chamber works. The recording by the Goldner Quartet and pianist Piers Lane is wonderful.

Cheers,

EJ

George,

Do you know Pristine Classical ? They are restoring old recordings and publishing them through direct sales on CD and downloads. I haven't tried them yet but apparently they seem to take great care of what they do, and Mark Obert-Thorn is sometimes working with them (when not taken by his work with Naxos Historical and others).

They have a selection of Elgar's works, as well as recordings made by Boult, Monteux, etc. Unfortunately, your favourite version of the Enigma Variations has not been restored yet, but who knows ?

Beware of their 'Ambient Stereo' downloads, which might not be to your liking. They use a digital process to spread the recording ambient noise from mono to stereo. All is explained on their website.

Have a nice weekend,

Maurice

Dear Maurice,

There are several fine producers of restorations old older classical recordings, and Naxos often scores a great result with them. Mark Obert Thorn is indeed a real artist in the field! I'll look up your recommendation.

Among the independents, APR [Apian Records] have some wonderful piano recordings transferred ...

Other sources are EMI itself, and Testament. These two obviously are restored at EMI's Abbey Road complex, and the engineers - past and present - include such as AC Griffith, Keith Hardwicke, Mike Dutton, and Andrew Walter. all masters of the very delicate work required to bring the performance to life once again from old shellac, master metals and early tapes. What is striking is that if the master metals are pristine [which they frequently are] then a quality can be produced that rivals anything since, right up to digital recordings of the newest type. 

ATB from George

Dear Doctor Mark,

The series of stereo recordings that Sir Adrian Boult recorded for EMI in the 1960s and 1970s is a prime recommendation as a whole. Not a weak link anywhere, though they make a starting point rather than the definitive selection or even the only way. Sir John Barbirolli's series for the same company but generaly slightly older recordings, is a different and equally valid selection.

ATB from George 

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions; I really want to expand my classical recordings and this gives me some ample "meat" to chew on.  Look for more of these direction seeking posts as I move forward.

Much appreciated!

Dear Mark,

I can work from experience, and help, but it remains opinion! Some for example prefer [in this repertoire] Barbirolli to Boult, and some prefer other recordings.

What can be definitely said is that Boult and Barbirolli were both grand musicians, and that both knew Elgar and consulted him on aspects of performing the music.

Elgar's own HMV recordings [containing almost all the major works for orchestra at least, and much salon music that is now rarely performed] were issued on nine CDs in about 1993/4 in superb restorations, and these cast another fascinating light on the music. Most composers would not have have so easily accepted recording their own music at a time when the gramophone was regarded by most musicians as a toy that at best set the music in a petrified form that was no longer alive, but Elgar's recordings seethe with life in spite of everything!

If you find these they will be second hand or NOS, and very expensive. I got mine from the pre-issue pressings issued to the press for criticism prior to general release. They are gold not aluminium backed, unlike the subsequent general released CDs.. I might guess that they might be worth a penny or too now, but never to be sold as they came to me at trade cost from a friend within the Elgar Foundation!

One or two of these have been re-issued since on single CDs at budget price, and are worth seeking out!

ATB from George

Monteux's Enigma Variations recorded by Decca for RCA is a must. Just listen to Dorabella and you hear a slice of pure heaven.

This is a superb thing. Totally agree!

As I said to Doctor Mark,

"Boult, Barbirolli, or Monteux," and add here: "Not necessarily in that order!" *

ATB from George

* second post of the thread!

Cute story involving Enigma Variations; my sister& her daughter's favorite is Nimrod.  Niece is a French horn player minoring in music at George Mason University and her mother came to pick her up at school.  Unfortunately some man was playing the fool in his car and had traffic into the school blocked for some minutes.  Nimrod was on the radio, and sister had hoped she could get to her daughter in time for her to hear it as well, but it was not to be.  When she got up to the appointed spot to get her the following exchange took place:

"You just missed Nimrod!"

Sincere reply with no attempt at humor at all: "No I didn't, I saw him blocking traffic!"

And Richard, I will put that suggestion on the short list - thanks!

Dear Mark,

I think you have two more versions of the Enigma to get fairly soon. Neither will cost much and will reveal how three great conductors could bring out at least three facets of the beautiful diamond that is the Enigma Variations. Then get the old Elgar record, and smile at how the composer sometimes reveals marvels, ...  and sometimes utterly missed them!

ATB from George

Richard/George:

Is this the right one?

I wish they wouldn't mix composers, conductors, and orchestras on the same disc, as so often seems to be the case. 

But if it is the right recording, then it isn't a bad thing to pick up Karajan conducting Holst - just a PITA to organize it on the CD shelf or in the music server!

Dear Mark,

The Enigma is the one of three [or more] right ones and the Planets is the wrong one. Caricature comes to mind in respect of Karajan's Planets! Boult, Sargeant, Holst [1926 recording] ... come to mind for a great performance on records of the Planets Suite ...

But if it is cheap enough for only the Enigma to be significant, then get it anyway.

ATB from George

Actually, at $94 (!) for a new copy, I would say not.  "Used - good" is ~$12 shipped; I prefer "Used - Like New" when purchasing used CDs.

The Enigma variations can take some abuse: whether Bernstein found new depths or confused Elgar with Mahler I am not exactly sure, but this is definitely a fun record.

EJ

Dear Mark,

Here is the starter Planet!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Holst-...ations/dp/B00005YUBA

Naow we live in the era of re-issues, you will have to live with some duplication, as the LP contained the Planets alone and the Enigma alone.

This is Boult's final recording of five and certainly the best, though the first 1944/5 recording offers almost as much ...

But Karajan did not get what the Cheltemham mystic Holst was on about ...

ATB from George

"But Karajan did not get what the Cheltemham mystic Holst was on about ..."

A statement such as this makes me realize how much I have to learn in this genre...

How 'bout this'n?

 You recommended that recording to me previously George, and I can confirm it's excellent; far better than the various other versions of "Planets" I've got kicking about.

OK, hands up, Much as I love Boult's many recordings, as well as those of so many others, Von Karajan's early recording of The Planets with the VPO is one of my favourites.  So, with Monteux's Enigma Variations, this CD has two of my all-time favourites on it.  And yes, I have this very CD as well as the original vinyl of each.

Yes Richard - but would you pay $94 US to get a copy of this CD?

Is the disc with Enigma coupled with the Dvorak a good one?  (i.e., is it the same Boult Enigma as on the other?)

For the original vinyl, yes, quite possibly, but for the CD, no.  It's £7 on amazon uk though.

This one looks like the same Monteux Enigma Variations.  So, if the price is right...