Since the London Symphony Orchestra’s foundation in 1904, the music and spirit of Sir Edward Elgar have lived in the Orchestra’s blood. Elgar conducted the LSO during its very first 1904-5 season of concerts, and the Orchestra’s first Principal Conductor, Hans Richter, was a devoted champion of the composer’s music both at home and abroad.
Combining a remastered collection of the LSO’s finest Elgar recordings, this album demonstrates the enduring significance of the composer’s work for the LSO, and showcases performances by conductors Barry Tuckwell, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Sir Colin Davis and Sir Antonio Pappano.
The album features critically acclaimed, award-winning recordings of Elgar’s Symphonies Nos 1–3, alongside orchestral favourites including Elgar's "Enigma" Variations, Cello Concerto, Imperial March and Pomp & Circumstance Marches.
“Their Enigma is one of the most beautifully played I can recall, and certainly one of the most moving accounts… This superlative performance is coupled with an equally dazzling account of the Introduction & Allegro” - Sunday Times (Elgar: Enigma Variations, Introduction & Allegro)
“The first symphony sounds terrific and Davis’s ripe, expansive reading is deeply satisfying. The second symphony is if anything even better” - Mail On Sunday (Elgar: Symphony No. 2)
“a radical version that sweeps away preconceived notions about the work. The headiness of Davis’s approach is matched by the lushness of the LSO’s playing and a sumptuous recording” - The Guardian (Elgar: Symphony No. 2)
Extra material for download
