Sir Edward ELGAR – Concert Overture – In the South (Alassio), op. 50 (1904), Serenade for String Orchestra, op. 20 , Variations on an Original Theme, op. 36 ‘Enigma’, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko, Ian Tracey (organ), rec. 2018, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, UK ONYX CD 4205 TT: 66:31 (3/29/19)
This latest Elgar disc is part of a series of the composer’s works championed by conductor Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. There’s plenty of Elgar in the catalog, and I think the rendering here of In ‘The South’ is the standout work on the disc.
The remaining tracks, the oft-heard ‘Enigma Variations’ and the ‘Serenade’ are well represented in the catalogs.
I have mixed emotions about this CD. I think both the ‘Enigma’ and the ‘Serenade’ are a bit laking in passion, while ‘In the South’ is the best performance I’ve heard of the work.
The playing of the Liverpoolians can’t be faulted, and the recording has much to recommend it. The microphone perspective seems about row 10-15, the instruments are well delineated, but blend into a lovely aural spread between my stereo speakers. Listening on headphones, which are very revealing of substandard recordings, was also quite a positive experience.
Generally, my go-to conductors for Elgar have been Barbirolli and Hsndley, who both connect fully to this music.
—Mel Martin
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