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Documentary filmed in the rolling Malvern Hills. Sir Andrew Davis reveals the mystery of the famous musical puzzle contained in E;gar's seminal work. Features a performance of the complete ork by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis in Elgar's home town of Worcester.
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Elgar - Enigma Variations
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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
If there is a more quintessential British composer than Elgar, I don't know who it is. And if there is a more quintessential work by Elgar than his 'Enigma Variations' the same holds true. Here we have, with Sir Andrew Davis conducting the BBC Symphony, not only a fine performance of the work, but also a documentary about the piece itself featuring Davis who tells us much about each of the people who inspired the individual variations while wandering about the beautiful Malvern Hills, Elgar's home, the Worcester Cathedral and environs. He elucidates the nature of the relationships between Elgar and his subjects. Periodically there are appropriate short film clips from the early years of the twentieth century including some of the composer himself. There is a particularly amusing clip, skillfully synchronized with the music, featuring several dogs running and jumping into a brook and back out again, while Davis talks about Elgar's friend G. R. Sinclair's bulldog, Dan.
Separate from the documentary section, the uninterrupted performance takes place in the grand space of the Worcester Cathedral whose warm acoustic lends a lovely aural patina to the performance. One feels positively Edwardian in its sonic embrace. At the beginning of each variation there is a black-and-white photograph of the person whom the variation depicts. And, of course, for the variation entitled 'G.R.S.' (organist George Robertson Sinclair) a picture of Dan is shown.
There are tracks for each of the variations and the booklet contains a brief paragraph about each of the 'friends pictured within.' Davis touches briefly on the putative 'secret theme' mentioned by Elgar, but dismisses it as an insoluble puzzle whose solution makes little difference in the long run. Sound is in either LPCM stereo or DTS surround sound. Subtitles for the English narration of the documentary are in German, French, Italian, Spanish and English. TT 85 minutes.
A delightful DVD.
Scott Morrison
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By singingroger
I found Andrew Davis' illumination of each of his favourite characters contained in the Variations, most moving.
I felt that he,(Andrew),understood the sometimes, very subtle, references to people known and loved by the composer, and was extremely sensitive in his handling of the orchestra, in every variation.
The mixture of archival and modern film-clips were very skilfully tailored to the plot and well suited to the music.
I thought the ghost-like images of the characters on the cathedral pillars, at the start of each variation, was a subtle, but brilliant idea on someones part.
I have listened in both LPCM Stereo, and DTS surround, and found both formats to give great pleasure, although I do prefer the surround version.
The sound quality is superb for a live recording, and really gives presence.
Can we please have many more DVDs of this calibre in the future.
I felt that he,(Andrew),understood the sometimes, very subtle, references to people known and loved by the composer, and was extremely sensitive in his handling of the orchestra, in every variation.
The mixture of archival and modern film-clips were very skilfully tailored to the plot and well suited to the music.
I thought the ghost-like images of the characters on the cathedral pillars, at the start of each variation, was a subtle, but brilliant idea on someones part.
I have listened in both LPCM Stereo, and DTS surround, and found both formats to give great pleasure, although I do prefer the surround version.
The sound quality is superb for a live recording, and really gives presence.
Can we please have many more DVDs of this calibre in the future.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By M. J. Nelson
Amazon Verified Purchase
The identity of the hidden theme behind the one used by Sir Edward Elgar for his 'Variations on an Original Theme' has long been a source of speculation among musicologists. In the main part of this valuable DVD the conductor Sir Andrew Davis not only attempts to solve this enigma but to uncover the other enigma - the true nature of Elgar's complex personality. These factors, however, are by way of being a backdrop to Sir Andrew's persuasive analysis of the work which propelled Elgar to artistic eminence and was the key which unlocked the great renaissance of English music in the early 20th century. Not all of the film footage accompanying the different variations is apt but the 'friends pictured within' unfalingly come to life with the help of photographs and other illustrative material. The DVD also includes a splendid performance of the complete work by the BBC Symphony Orchestra wonderfully well-recorded in Worcester Cathedral. The whole enterprise complements and augments the late Ken Russell's two television films about the composer, the second of which (not commercially available) offers a somewhat more controversial view of its subject.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
English music when it's best
The title of this preview ought to be enough to say. First class information and insight by sir Andrew Davis.
Published on 24 Oct 2010 by Carsten Groa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elgars Enigma DVD
This was purchased as a Christmas present for my dad and he was delighted with it. Content and quality excellent and delivery time was very good.
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by W. Paton
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