COMPOSERS: Elgar
LABELS: ASV
WORKS: Symphony No. 1; Cockaigne Overture
PERFORMER: Hallé Orchestra/James Loughran/The Philharmonia/Owain Arwel Hughes
CATALOGUE NO: CDQS 6082 ADD/DDD (1983/89)
Loughran takes the First Symphony no slower than, say, Previn in his much-praised performance on Philips – or Elgar himself in his compelling 1927 recording – but the results seem ponderous. Unmarked rallentandi play their part here, as do a sometimes raucous brass section and some decidedly unsubtle percussion. A lack of real symphonic sweep and occasional scrappiness in the Hallé add to the disappointments. Keith Potter
Elgar: Symphony No. 1; Cockaigne Overture
Loughran takes the First Symphony no slower than, say, Previn in his much-praised performance on Philips – or Elgar himself in his compelling 1927 recording – but the results seem ponderous. Unmarked rallentandi play their part here, as do a sometimes raucous brass section and some decidedly unsubtle percussion. A lack of real symphonic sweep and occasional scrappiness in the Hallé add to the disappointments. Keith Potter
Our rating
2
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:30 pm