Elgar: Enigma Variations

It was a surprise to me that Bernstein had made any recordings of Elgar. As soon as I found this one, I was very keen to have a listen, with Elgar being one of my favourite composers, and Bernstein one of my favourite conductors. I have to say that I was not completely sure if the combination of Bernstein conducting Elgar would work, but it certainly did...

Staring with the Enigma...

Bernstein takes a very slow tempo throughout the theme and the first variation, but this is not sluggish or dull at all, this is raw passion, so beautifully performed with fantastic sense of rubato and wonderful dynamic shaping and articulation for the melodic lines. All orchestral textures are controlled masterfully by Bernstein who encourages the BBC Symphony Orchestra to give off such a warm, divine sound. The same can be said about "Nimrod". Bernstein's tempo for the most popular variation is extremely slow, taking a grand total of 6 minutes, appoximately 2 or 3 minutes more than most other performances. But as in the first two variations, no part of the performance feels dragging, instead, the playing is absolutely glorious, and will most certainly shed a tear (if not more) from your eye due to the sheer beauty of the passion Bernstein and the orchestra insert into the music.

Throughout the many different moods the 14 variations take us through, Bernstein and the BBC Symphony Orchestra easily adapt to all of them. Whether the delightful nature of variations such as "RBT", "RPA", "Ysobel" and "Dorabella" or the fire and agression of "Troyte" and "GRS" or the mystery of the "Romanza" or the passion and glory of "Nimrod" and the majestic finale, the combination will find exactly the right feel for all of them.

One of the main highlights for me would have been the finale. In this performance, Bernstein's understanding of the music can not be matched. The last two minutes are the most glorious and passionate that you will be able to find on disc, guaranteed. And what a beautiful sound the organ creates, it is amazing how present it is, never before have I heard the organ so audible in this piece!

The three extras add contrast to the variations. All three of them are executed perfectly. It is quite an achievment for Bernstein, an American conductor, to capture the pomp and glory of the second subject of the first pomp and circumstance march ("Land of Hope and Glory" theme) better than many other British conductor, his tempo for this is perfect. I absolutely love the energetic speed Bernstein takes for the first idea of the second pomp and circumstance, this is very enjoyable to listen to. The more exotic side of Elgar's orchestration in the Crown of India march, supplied by tambourines and tam-tams, is executed perfectly by Bernstein with thrilling climaxes and a very "stormy" finale chord!

The playing of the BBC Symphony Orchestra can not be faulted any way. It is accurate, virtuosic, enthusiastic and creates such a beautiful, engaging sound. The performance of the orchestra here is far better than the recording they made only 9 years later with Sir Andrew Davis!
The recorded sound is excellent as well.

So I can not reccommend this cd enough, it is I would say, the best performance of the Enigma Variations I have heard (and I have heard many!) and one of the most essential Elgar cds you need. However, if you are slightly afraid of some of Bernstein's extremely slow speeds, despite my praise of them, two other recordings of the Enigma to look into would be Sir Simon Rattle/CBSO on EMI, Zubin Mehta/Los Angeles Philharmonic on Decca or George Hurst/Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on Naxos. But in my opinion, this is the one to get, it is such a shame Bernstein did not record any more Elgar...

Daniel Hogan

Leonard Bernstein's performances of Elgar's music on this celebrated disc were beautifully recorded by Deutsche Grammophon in 1981/82. The programme offers highly characteristic and sharply idiosyncratic interpretations of classic English repertoire. That is what Bernstein was noted for - fresh, original and usually highly emotional readings of standard repertoire. According to the late John Drummond, members of the orchestra were ready to lynch Lenny a few hours into the recording sessions because of his insistence upon numerous retakes and what they believed were excessively slow tempi. It is true that "Enigma" Variation 9, 'Nimrod', is taken very slowly indeed, at 6.08 minutes. But as always with Bernstein you got Bernstein as well as the composer featured, and he was undoubtedly a very great musician. There are plenty of excellent alternative recordings of all of Elgar's music performed here.

As I say, the sheer sound on this disc is very beautiful and the readings are warmly expressive and rich. In addition the notes in the accompanying leaflet are exemplary and written by the incomparable Michael Kennedy. Highly recommended.

This is different and it is very good. Listening and appreciating music is always subjective and if you know the work well it is often easier to be more critical. In this case Bernstein interprets the music very differently from most conductors. Nevertheless it is a joy to listen to and once again I was reduced to tears by Nimrod. Defintely a version worth adding to your collection if you like Elgar and the Enigmna Variations. If you are more of a tradionalist you may want to stick to the main stream versions. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.