‘What’s the matter with them Billy? They sit there like a lot of stuffed pigs!’ Elgar commented to his friend W.H. Reid, the leader of the Queen’s Hall Orchestra after the chilly reception given to the Second Symphony at its premiere in 1911. More emotionally complex and ambiguous than the First Symphony, the Second seems to hint at the apocalyptic events that would be unleashed just three years on. ‘Be like a woman dropping a flower on a man’s grave’ wrote the composer of the ‘Spirit of Delight’ theme in the coda of the second movement.

This eagerly awaited Elgar 2 from Petrenko and the RLPO will further delight those fans who bought their recording of the First Symphony, released on Onyx to critical acclaim last year.

‘He gets Elgar... absolutely understands the beating heart of it... elegance, weight, gravitas... seriously beautiful playing... highest possible quality recording... Our generation’s great Elgarian’ - BBC Radio 3 Record Review on ONYX4145 (Elgar Symphony no.1 & Cockaigne Overture)