This disc of
Elgar's orchestral music features a mishmash of repertoire and a hodgepodge of performances. It includes
Eduardo Mata's 1987 recording of the Enigma Variations, with the
London Symphony Orchestra, and two performances with the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra:
Yehudi Menuhin's 1994 recording of the concert overture In the South and
Barry Wordsworth's 1994 recording of Introduction and Allegro for strings. Each performance has strengths and weaknesses. The Enigma Variations with
Mata and the
LSO are bright and energetic with plenty of power in the Finale, but lack tenderness in some of the more intimate variations and nobility in the justly celebrated Nimrod variation.
Menuhin's and the
RPO's In the South is strong and enthusiastic, but wants warmth in the big tunes and, more importantly, coherence over the long haul.
Wordsworth and the
RPO's Introduction and Allegro likewise has sufficient strength and ample energy, plus generous amounts of warmth, but some listeners may find the overall performance too weighty, and the string tone occasionally a bit overdone. This disc will likely appeal only to those with interest in what these particular conductors have to say about the pieces. Most listeners will happily return to the classic performances by
Boult and
Barbirolli.