Outstanding performances of Elgar music(转发)

This is the same re-mastered performance from the Great Recordings of the Century edition on EMI, here carried on by Warner Classics who seems to be re-releasing many of Du Pre’s LP’s back into the public. The re-mastered sound is good: full and detailed, and the orchestral sound (London SO for the Cello Concerto and Sea Pictures, Philharmonia for Cockaigne) seems to favor the brass (punchy in the foreground) during the big moments. The soloists are heard well over the orchestra, the Du Pre Davidov cello seems natural from an audience perspective, while Dame Janet Baker gets the benefit of a studio setting (Elgar orchestrates smartly by lightly scoring during the singing portions), where there is plenty of natural warmth to the recorded sound with an ever-so slight reverb as if in a hall.

Elgar’s music is not all flash and explosions, and the works on this disc certainly explore this aspect; Elgar seems ready to explore the innermost soul of mankind, especially in the cello concerto, a dreary, emotional affair that starts and stops with cadenza-like musings rather than a vehicle to show off the soloist’s bravado (although there is some of that here). The Elgar Concerto is Jacqueline Du Pre’s calling card and brought the work back into the fray of the classical music world, and here she continues to display her unique abilities to emote in a visceral manner: a large Romantic sound that savors each musical moment.

The Sea Pictures texts come from various sources (including Elgar’s wife) and show Elgar’s abilities with voice and melody. Baker handles the wide ranges with aplomb, enunciates the flowery texts crisply without being fussy (see Alice Coote's performance with Halle), and her golden-burnished singing quality is well-adhered to the stormy subject matter. In addition, Barbirolli leads the Philharmonia Orchestra in the Cockaigne Overture, which again, is not all dash and brio (see Sir Georg Solti’s Elgar) compilation, but gets to the heart of the matter: an ode to London replete with blustery brass. Barbirolli is an obvious proponent of all of this music and each of the performers set a high bar to surpass on record. Now with re-mastering, this recording is the place to start with this music (and possibly no further). Highly recommended, along with quality liner notes (all about Sir John Barbirolli, but unfortunately do not include the words of Sea Pictures), good price, and great sound.