Elgar: Sea Pictures; The Music Makers [CD]

It was as a 17 year old discovering the glories of Elgar that in 1967 I came across a review for a newly recorded first stereo version of The Music Makers by Boult and the LPO. The review rubbished the work as a "hack Job" by Elgar, set to an atrocious Edwardian text and of little musical value-though well performed for what it was! I was nonetheless intrigued by a work that included Rule Britannia, the Marseillaise and quotations from many of Elgar's earlier works-I was expecting a cross between the 1812 and Ein Heldenleben!
It was after playing the record for the first time that I began to doubt "Critical Opinion" as I had seldom if ever been so moved and affected by a piece of music-a reaction which still holds true every time I hear it now!
I'm glad to say the Critics have finally caught up with my views, and this work is held up as one of Elgar's greatest creations alongside the symphonies and the violin concerto. Certainly some passages of the O'Shaughnessy poems (adapted by and added to by Elgar himself) could cause one to cringe, but the supporting music more than offsets this-and much of the text is sublime.
The reason for this review is that there are 5 star reviews for other recordings, all of which I have-and they are more than justified with the exception of the Naxos version which is sloppily played and performed dully in my view-though it is a tremendous bargain. However, there are also special qualities in this recording that make it a 5 star recording as well, and just as fine as Elder or Hickox ( the Boult is not as well recorded and is not available as a separate CD, and the Davis BBC version is worthy but not inspired, and in dry sound), and superior in many respects.
The 1992 Chandos recording still sounds superb-the balance between chorus and orchestra is perfect, with the text clearly audible at all times, the organ pedal wonderfully caught and playing of the highest standard. It is arguably the best recorded of all, the Hickox being more closely recorded and the Elder has a more resonant acoustic with chorus diction being rather "swamped" at times.
These are nitpicking comparisons and do not detract from the excellence of these other performances-but unexpectedly Bryden ("Jack") Thomson is so totally "inside " this work that his interpretation surpasses the others in many passages, and is never less than "just as good!"
Those who might be daunted having heard his very broad tempi for the symphonies need not worry -his tempi in this work are ideal, and in general he is more moving in the more contemplative passages than his rivals-and just as grand and tempestuous in the more dramatic ones-he certainly whips up more excitement when called for than on other recordings. He is aided by a truly beautiful and stirring performance by Linda Finnie, whose hushed singing of "But on one man's soul..." is just one of many lump-in -the -throat moments. A more mezzo than contralto performance, she does not lack weight and depth at the big moments.
The coupling is an equally fine Sea Pictures to rival the best -that being for me, Felicity Palmer as I find the Janet Baker performance beautifully sung but "sterile"-with Thomson's conducting of the "The Swimmer" being something of a revelation!Linda Finnie's beautiful handling of each song is a delight, the first and last songs especially framing an inspired account by all concerned.If you are seeking a recording of either work, there is no finer performance than this one and it is the best recorded. The other recordings are also superb, and have their individual strengths-I listen to them all-but if you love these works as much as I do, in particular The Music Makers, you will want to hear this superb performance and recording, which stands as a testament to a great conductor totally at one with the music and musicians. Unreservedly recommended alongside-and in many respects- above the other 5 star choices. Stewart Crowe