From Pomp and Circumstance to THE Romantic Cello Concerto

[Kernos]

Happy birthday Eddie

Sir Edward Elgar was born 149 years ago today in "the small village of Lower Broadheath outside Worcester, Worcestershire, to William Elgar, a piano tuner and music dealer, and his wife Ann.":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Elgar

I think he is probably the best loved English Romantic composer, and I enjoy his works.

My favorite is probably his Cello Concerto. In fact I use it to 'audition' concert cellists.

I really have not found a living cellist I like, and would love some suggestions. I do not really like Yo-Yo Ma. Technicallyproficient, I think he lacks soul.

Just compare his recording of the Elgar with that of Jacqueline du Pré. She was brilliant, but alas had a much  too short life.

Take this opportunity to become familiar with some of Elgar's less familiar works.

Kernos

[Selene]

Well, I had to send the link to this to my resident Elgar enthusiast, my dear hubby, and he sent back the following:

I agree that Sir Edward Elgar is probably the best loved (and most talented) of the (too few) English Romantic composers. Yet Ralph Vaughn Williams can't be too far behind. Well, he was younger. (As an aside, it is my understanding that in this instance, "Ralph" is pronounced "Rafe.")

However, I would assert that Elgar's cello concerto sets the standard for cello concertos. And I stand by Kernos' side in proclaiming Jacqueline du Pré as the consummate cellist of recent decades. Evidence supporting this claim can be found in her 1965 recording under the baton of Sir John Barbirolli with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Even so, I must profess my admiration for the cello in the hands of Mstislav Rostropovich. Slava stands head and shoulders above the talented (and yes, acclaimed) Yo-Yo Ma. At the risk of being petty, I cannot understand why any conductor or orchestra would allow Janos Starker to share their stage.

Bottom line: I'm not a Druid, so I suppose none of this counts!

[Kernos]

I agree with dear hubby about Slava and would also give kudos to Casals. I heard both play when in NYC and DC a few dacades ago. But then a live performance is always something special.

I am still looking for a good up and coming cellist to admire and follow.

Josh Bell does it for me for the violin and his charisma is unsurpassed. There are a lot of big guns playing the fiddle, though and I love to compare recordings of the same piece.

For piano I still mainly listen to the war-horses, but would love to find a young turk to follow as he matures. I am studying the Rach 3 and would appreciate some CD suggestions. I only have Rachmaninov's own recording, but the quality makes it difficult. It is one of the greatest pieces in the piano lit, IMO

I find myself concentrating on chamber music these days, esp Beethoven and Brahms, though I am testing the waters of more romantic composers. What chamber groups do you all like.

Kernos

[Kernos]

I took my own advice and ordered Elgar's Violin Concerto, which I am not familiar with. It is paired with a Sibelius violin concerto on a Naxos CD, so should be fun and quite a contrast. I just hope the violinist is up to it, Dong-Suk Kang.

And his string quartet and piano quintet, also on Naxos with the Maggini String Quartet. These should be a quite departure from B&B.

K

[pobble]

I'm quite an Elgar fan really.  I think he has often been underestimated by people who know him only for "Land of Hope and Glory".

I liked Elgar's sonata for violin and piano when I played it many years back - but it isn't exactly "easy listening".  This is where you see a composer who was clearly very "late romantic" in the same way as Mahler and Shostakovich - perhaps more so.  Also reminiscent of Samuel Barber in certain ways.

I also came to like his (admittedly very Christian) oratorio "The Apostles" which is musically formed rather like Wagnerian opera with leitmotifs.

I agree wholeheartedly about the cello concerto and Jacqueline du Pre's performance of it.

[Kernos]

I must admit to loving virtuoso recital music, especially piano and violin sonatas. Being the Beethovan freak, I am, his Kreutzer and Spring violin sonatas are at the top of my favorite's list. I have not heard the Elgar.

Can you recommend a recording, Pobble?

I must admit to having a problem with vocal or choral works and really only enjoy a very few. Perhaps this is a subject for another thread.



PS - what do you play? Violin, piano or both?

[pobble]

See my PM about this.  I can't recommend any particular recording unfortunately.  With a quick look, I can only find two recordings (on CD) on sale at present, one more due to be released in July it seems.  I'd probably opt for the 2nd of these if buying today based on the Elgar Society recommendation.

CATALOGUE NR: SBT1319
RECORD LABEL: Testament
TRACKS: Violin Sonata No.2 (Delius). Violin Sonata (Walton). Violin Sonata in E minor op.82 (Elgar).
ARTISTS: Max Rostal   Colin Horsley    
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: recorded 1955-1957

CATALOGUE NR: CDA66645
RECORD LABEL: Hyperion
COMPOSER: Edward Elgar
TRACKS: Violin Sonata in E minor, op.82 Piano Quintet in A minor, op.84.
ARTISTS: Nash Ensemble      
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: By any standards this is a major Elgar recording. I cannot recommend it too highly (The Elgar Society Journal)

CATALOGUE NR: 8557984
RECORD LABEL: Naxos
RELEASE DATE: 03-Jul-2006
COMPOSER: Edward Elgar
TITLE: Violin Recital
TRACKS: Violin Sonata in E minor op.82. Romance op.1. Bizarrerie op.13 No.2. Pastourelle op.4 No.2. La Capricieuse op.17. Virelai op.4 No.3. Mazurka op.10 No.1. Idyll op.4 No.1. Chanson de Nuit op.15 No.1. Chanson de Matin op.15 No.2. Salut d'amour op.12. Offertoire.
ARTISTS: Simone Lamsma   Yurie Miura

[taranwanderer]

Kernos wrote:

I have not heard the Elgar.
Can you recommend a recording, Pobble?

Hope you don't mind me offering a suggestion. Kennedy's (formally Nigel Kennedy, now just Kennedy)  recording of the Elgar is outstanding. I agree with Pobble - this work is wonderful but somewhat obtuse.