Elgar Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

"WOW isn’t a word used in classical music reviewing but this Lyrita re-issue deserves it and I use it because I’m of an age to have the original 1968 vinyls, so there!

After playing the ‘brat’ card I must start with something unusual from my pen when I say that the digital remastering by Simon Gibson pulls even more sonic range and detail from the master tapes than are on the LPs… The Lyrita reissue is technically perfect and must be essential to Elgar students, especially in the fine ADD format. It displays the best of analogue accuracy which is rare.

Although Boult had freedom in the Symphony No.1 to explore and analyse the work it doesn’t quite hit the heart. Boult’s EMI 1976 version is more emotional without conceding integrity but, for my money, Barbirolli is better in his 1962 version and supreme in the BBC live 1970 version at King’s Lynn. Colin Davis is impressive but I give the top recommendation to the BBC Barbirolli. Boult’s Lyrita remains essential for its analytical style. It’s a must have for Elgarians of all ages. In Symphony No.2 Boult scores over EMI, Lyrita and his last Prom performance of a symphony dear to his heart. Barbirolli and even Davis show some vagueness in the links between light and shadow in this remarkable work. Boult gets it right in every case.

MWI readers will appreciate how important the Elgar symphonies were for English music after a barren period during imperial/material success. This remarkable Lyrita reissue sets a standard to be compared with the other recordings mentioned above, others not mentioned and in times to come. Rarely, rarely comes an opportunity like this." Stephen Hall, MusicWeb International