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Elgar - Symphony No.1, Engima Variations, etc

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Label: Barbirolli Society

Cat No: SJB1017

Barcode: 5060181660177

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 2

Genre: Orchestral

Release Date: 12th October 2009

Works

Elgar, Edward

Bavarian Dances, op.27 (3)

» no.2 Lullaby

Elegy for strings, op.58
Enigma Variations, op.36
Introduction and Allegro for strings, op.47
Symphony no.1 in A flat major, op.55

Artists

Halle Orchestra

Conductor

John Barbirolli

Works

Elgar, Edward

Bavarian Dances, op.27 (3)

» no.2 Lullaby

Elegy for strings, op.58
Enigma Variations, op.36
Introduction and Allegro for strings, op.47
Symphony no.1 in A flat major, op.55

Artists

Halle Orchestra

Conductor

John Barbirolli

About

John Barbirolli made his first recording of Elgar's First Symphony for Pye in December 1956. He had recorded the Second for HMV in 1954. The First was recorded in one day (with the Introduction and Allegro) in the Free Trade Hall and one senses in this very fine interpretation the sweep and immediacy of a live performance – there is no suggestion here of stitched-up tapes and inserted re-takes.

JB’s Hallé Orchestra was at its peak around this period and he made the recording with the centenary of Elgar’s birth the following June very much in the front of his mind. Michael Kennedy believes the performance of the Adagio is even more moving than in his 1963 Philharmonia version. He first conducted No.1 in 1933 with the Scottish Orchestra but did not return to it until the 1954-5 Hallé season in Manchester. It was also the last Elgar work he conducted, at Ely and King’s Lynn in July 1970.

The symphony is part of Hallé history because Hans Richter, to whom it was dedicated, conducted the first performance at a Hallé concert in Manchester on 3 December 1908 and JB made it the climax of the orchestra’s centenary concert on 30 January 1958 when Colin Mason wrote that “the performance was not four movements but a single symphonic poem, haunted all through by the tempo and mood of the opening march theme. It may be doubted whether Richter himself did better for the work than this.” We can hear how right he was from this disc.

Contents:
CD 1 - Stereo
- Introduction & Allegro for Strings Op.47
- Elegy for Strings Op.58
- Symphony No.1 in A flat Op.55
Recorded 11 & 12 December 1956 Free Trade Hall

CD 2 - Mono
- Introduction & Allegro for Strings Op.47
Recorded 29 May 1947 Kingsway Hall, London

- Elegy for Strings Op.58
Recorded 4 January 1947 Houldsworth Hall, Manchester

- Enigma Variations Op.36
Recorded 23 October 1947 Kingsway Hall, London

- Bavarian Dance No.2 ‘Lullaby’
Recorded 30 May 1947 Kingsway Hall, London