Sir Edward Elgar: Symphony No. 2 - Sir Colin Davis / London Symphony Orchestra

Sir Edward Elgar: Symphony No. 2 - Sir Colin Davis / London Symphony Orchestra

Sir Edward Elgar: Symphony No. 2 - Sir Colin Davis / London Symphony Orchestra
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CD Details

Composer: Sir Edward Elgar
Conductor: Sir Colin Davis
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Import, Live
CD Release Date: 2002-05-14
Music Label: Lso Live UK
Soundtracks:
  1. Allegro vivace e nobilimente
  2. Larghetto
  3. Rondo: Presto
  4. Moderato e maestoso

Music reviews of Sir Edward Elgar: Symphony No. 2 - Sir Colin Davis / London Symphony Orchestra

Music Review: A perfect Second, with non-obbligato solo voice...
Rating: 5 Stars

If you still think of Elgar as the epitome of staid Edwardian `Bürgertum', just listen to the horrifying middle part of this Symphony's Scherzo, and think again. Nor is there anything staid about the rest of the work, especially not in this top-of-the-bill recording. Its arguments are complex, and some of the themes somewhat heady, but the drama of it all is extremely gripping - less comfortable and easily digestible than the First, but in the end, to my ears, more rewarding. Highly original touches of instrumentation and harmonization enliven things further. Elgar has written some extraordinary string figuration in this symphony, and thankfully in this recording it registers clearly. The peculiar eerie moods he was able to conjure up in his late works are also in evidence - most of all when, as the composer himself phrased it, a malign influence wanders into the summer night in the garden of the first movement's second theme (it are these same haunting heaves and sighs that will return, with battering percussion, in the Scherzo). And Colin Davis knows how to gauge this atmosphere as hardly anybody before. He controls the constant ebb and flow of Elgar's (written in) rubati to perfection, and shades dynamics from the faintes pianissimo to the strongest forte. Rhythmic structure is kept in tight control however, so that the opening theme of the first Allegro immediately makes sense - it can easily sound garbled in lesser hands. Nor is he content to let the finale drift away on the pulse of its easy-going humming-tune: in this recording it is the dramatic peak of the work, its elegiac ending all the more touching for it. (Pity though that he did not include the organ pedal, as once suggested by Elgar, to underscore the final climax - Handley did, and to great effect). Articulation is equally precise: in the funeral march rhythm at the end of the slow movement, one can, for instance, actually hear that the quavers have a staccato dot and the semiquavers don't. As usual in this series the LSO plays with consummate skill and great musicality, and the recording is extremely dry but very clear and transparent.
All in all, I would rank this version of the Symphony above the much lauded readings by Handley, Solti, Downes and Andrew Davis, which I'm all familiar with. It is for that reason alone that I am willing to put up with its one extra-musical flaw: Sir Colin's very audible presence. I never was a fan of live recordings, because of intrusive audience noise. Ironically however, the audience, no doubt spell-bound, produces no more than one very timid cough. The conductor on the other hand seems determined to make up for such vocal reticence. The first two movements especially are accompanied by a near continuous 'solo' part of sighs, grunts and off-key head voice humming, not to mention a very loud "Paahhh!!" just before the first movement's end. You might of course argue that it is all part of the thrill of real music-making - but I have just a few too many discs with real-music making and non-audible conductors to buy that. Usually this kind of thing is enough for me to discard a recording after a few hearings, but in this case the music making itself is so good that I actually found myself able, if not quite to hear through it, at least to put up with it as a small price to pay.
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Description of Sir Edward Elgar: Symphony No. 2 - Sir Colin Davis / London Symphony Orchestra

Elgar's first symphony was an overnight sensation, establishing him as one of the leading composers of his time. His darker, more enigmatic, second symphony has always proved more elusive. Sir Colin Davis penetrates to the heart of the composer's emotions in a truly revelatory recording.
This is a work that can all too often seem relentlessly grumpy, but Sir Colin Davis, leading a performance taped live in London in October 2001, manages to bring it to life. The first movement's opening is far more muscular than we're used to, and this makes the overall ethereal mood all the more noticeable. The very British Larghetto, while still heavy, has a forward propulsion that defines this performance's outlook in general. The third movement's huge, scary climax is particularly welcome after the gentle flute and harp interlude. And the finale, taken quickly, flows beautifully toward its sustained closing chord. This is a moody work, and Davis and the LSO catch all the changes, while somehow making the entire work seem more vital than many other performances. The sound is good, but the volume level needs to be turned up. And at mid-price, this is a very good buy. --Robert Levine

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