COMPOSERS: Elgar
LABELS: EMI
WORKS: Symphony No. 1; Overture Cockaigne (In London Town)
PERFORMER: Philharmonia/John Barbirolli
CATALOGUE NO: CDM 7 64511 2 ADD (1963)
A very welcome reissue of this celebrated recording of the symphony. The analogue-to-digital transfer is very successful; sample the coda of the final movement – brilliant! Barbirolli’s obvious devotion to this work sings out from every bar. He adopts some controversially slow tempi and the first movement may be a bit wayward, but there are many moments of great sensitivity, especially in his exquisite Adagio. A splendid bonus Cockaigne. A must for Elgarians. Ian Lace
Elgar: Symphony No. 1; Overture Cockaigne (In London Town)
A very welcome reissue of this celebrated recording of the symphony. The analogue-to-digital transfer is very successful; sample the coda of the final movement – brilliant! Barbirolli’s obvious devotion to this work sings out from every bar. He adopts some controversially slow tempi and the first movement may be a bit wayward, but there are many moments of great sensitivity, especially in his exquisite Adagio. A splendid bonus Cockaigne. A must for Elgarians. Ian Lace
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:34 pm