Elgar:Enigma Variations

 

 

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A disc to surprise and delight, combining two classics of theturn-of-the-century British musical renaissance with three forgotten, butexcellently chosen gems that place Elgar's "Enigma Variations" and VaughanWilliams' "Tallis Fantasia" perfectly in context. These masterpiecesdidn't emerge in a musical vacuum and this disc shows how. Austin's "SeaVenturers" Overture - its first recording - is a real find, a sweeping andsalty musical seascape. The musical language is that of Bax or the moreastringent Vaughan Williams but it has a bite and a sense of orchestralcolour that's clearly Austin's own. Stanford's "Shamus O'Brien" overtureis (infinitesimally) better-known but its first modern recording shows uswhat a delightfully melodious and beautifully crafted score this is; think"serious" Edward German with an Irish accent, scored with thatgold-and-silver, Edwardian-Elgarian orchestral sound. Its lilting secondsubject is a tune so irresistible that you could almost forgive Stanfordfor treating Elgar so shabbily. Mackenzie's "Columba" prelude - well,let's just say it convincingly demonstrates the standards of provincialmedicocrity against which Stanford, Elgar and the rest shone out. It'sbeautifully played nonetheless, as are the two undisputed masterpieces onthe disc. Incredibly, this is the RLPO's first recording of "Enigma". TheRLPO is perhaps the last orchestra in the UK that can, as a matter ofcourse, perform these works idiomatically. They've kept the mellowness,flexibility and balance of pre-war orchestras without sacrificing an ounceof instrumental virtuosity; the string sound is warm, soft edged andexpressive, with portamenti in all the right places (a real treat in the"Tallis Fantasia"); brass are burnished and mellow, (and, when calledupon, brilliant) and every one of the wind principals is an individual.They can do a real collective pianissimo. And Bostock just lets them play,with the lightest of touches on the helm. The recorded sound is asimmediate and warm as in the Philharmonic Hall where it was made, and thesuperbly researched and excellently presented booklet puts most majorlabels (except Hyperion) to shame. My only reservation would be that theopportunity was not taken to record the original, slightly shorter versionof the "Enigma Variations", as given in the 1899 New Brighton performancereferred to in the booklet; inevitably, recordings of this work come upagainst stiff competition and this would have given this one a uniqueselling point. But that's no reason to hold back from buying thisimaginative, intelligent and thoroughly enjoyable disc. What a disgracethat "Gramophone" have yet to review it!

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