Despite the abundance and diversity of his output,
Edward Elgar is today remembered primarily for a very small percentage of his overall oeuvre. Of his most popular and memorable works, the Enigma Variations, included on this Lyrita album, is perhaps the most often performed, easily recognized, and best composed of his works. The performance given here by the
New Philharmonia Orchestra (which, ironically, was previously and is now known simply as the
Philharmonia Orchestra) keeps with the tradition of grandiose, sweeping orchestral gestures that characterize this piece. Led by conductor
Andrew Davis, this orchestra's sound is deep and rich, intonation and other technical aspects are meticulous, and attention given to subtle differences between variations is pleasantly detailed. On the flip side of this brilliant orchestration and immense popularity is
Elgar's Falstaff, Op. 68, which represents one of
Elgar's many compositions that, while popular in its time, has failed to live up to the model of other great works like Enigma, the String Serenade, cello and violin concertos, and even the First Symphony. By comparison, Falstaff can come across as somewhat trite and trivial, even given the detailed, exuberant performance heard here. The album closes with one of the extremely popular (in England) Pomp and Circumstance marches, though not the one to which most American's matriculate at one point or another.