Elgar: Introduction and Allegro for Strings; Falstaff; Fantasy and Fugue in C minor

These are sterling performances. The National Youth Orchestra under Christopher Seaman plays the great Elgar works with considerable vigour and attack. Their Falstaff is spirited and sensitive: all the masterly characterisation and narrative writing of the score is nicely realised. Falstaff’s buffoonery, the imposing, regal theme associated with Prince Hal, the Dream Interludes and Falstaff’s moving death scene are all colourfully and imaginatively caught.

Our rating

4

Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:07 pm

COMPOSERS: Elgar
LABELS: Carlton IMP
WORKS: Introduction and Allegro for Strings; Falstaff; Fantasy and Fugue in C minor
PERFORMER: Richard Deakin, Geoffrey Silver (violin), Stephen Broadbent (viola), David Strange (cello); National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain/Christopher Seaman
CATALOGUE NO: 30367 00302 DDD (1989)

These are sterling performances. The National Youth Orchestra under Christopher Seaman plays the great Elgar works with considerable vigour and attack. Their Falstaff is spirited and sensitive: all the masterly characterisation and narrative writing of the score is nicely realised. Falstaff’s buffoonery, the imposing, regal theme associated with Prince Hal, the Dream Interludes and Falstaff’s moving death scene are all colourfully and imaginatively caught. The Introduction and Allegro although very slightly marred by flashes of woolly ensemble and suspect intonation in the Introduction has a fresh, outdoors feeling and it is good to have the little known Bach Transcription, which is thrilling here. Ian Lace

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