Sir Edward Elgar the "Master of the King's Musick" in 1931, opening Abbey Road Studios. Pathé film.

Awesome. The DuPre / Barenboim Cello Concerto is one of my favourite recordings ever. Thanks for posting.

 

The British Pathe web resource is fantastic.

 

SIr Edward lived just along the road/ near by the studio too.



peace and love✌Dave

 

This very very cool, thank you Steve! This piece is very played out to American audiences but seeing the composer himself conduct it breathes a bit of fresh air into it. And I loved seeing them cut the master as we watched it being performed.

And the video quality of this clip is just outstanding, thanks again for sharing!!

 

Elgar's Nimrod is one of the most moving pieces of music I've ever heard. I've just started diving into more of his works. Thanks for posting.

 

Great question. I bet there will be a lot of disagreement on this topic. I usually read about either Adrian Boult or Barbirolli when it comes to the the best of the best on the Enigma Variations. I started with Sir Colin Davis and the LSO's version (2007). It might not be a critics favorite but I like it. As I delve deeper into listening to classical I'm guessing I'll change my mind.

 

Du Pré’s recording of the cello concerto with John Barbirolli is one of the greatest recordings of all time, without (much) debate. Imo. I have it on a CD that pairs it with Janet Baker’s performance of Sea Pictures (also w/ Barbirolli). What an absolutely perfect pairing

 

Thanks for posting that, Steve. Just fantastic.

 

Very nice to see this. I didn't know he was also the composer of 'Land Of Hope And Glory'!
Also, this must be the short (main) version, as I know there's a much longer version with extended and different sounding sections somewhere between, like a small symphony.

 

Elgar's ghost was a sort of central character to an unusual 1970s tv production of Play For Today titled 'Penda's Fen', and The Dream of Gerontius is heard throughout it along with BBC Radiophonic Workshop and it's manipulation of the Elgar.

I also think Nimrod is one of the greatest pieces of music ever composed alongside Satie's Gymnopédies and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony.

 

There's a decent rundown of the main suggestions here: Elgar's Enigma Variations | gramophone.co.uk

 

Amazing. Probably the most familiar piece of classical music ever written being conducted by the man who wrote it, and it's captured on film. Can't say that too often.

 

A short film presenting Hamilton Webber conducting the State Theatre Orchestra in Sydney. The State Theatre is a giant cinema in the heart of Sydney which was constructed in 1929.



I found this on a DVD about the State Theatre and I put it on YouTube because I figured somebody somewhere will be interested in it. The DVD I pulled this off is no longer in print.

 

A lot of people like the version made by the Halle Orchestra in 1956, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. Originally a Pye Nixa recording, it was engineered by the Mercury recording team of Cozart and Fine, so should be self-recommending to 'Living Presence' fans.

This is the version I have:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Cell...sr=1-2&keywords=enigma+variations,+barbirolli

My favourite version of the Pomp & Circumstance Marches is by Sir Georg Solti conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Sir Georg, a Hungarian by birth but British by adoption, has the march in his blood but he eschews sentimentality and that makes his version work for me:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Pomp...&sr=1-3&keywords=pomp+and+circumstance,+solti

 

Steve, the Pye/Mercury John Barbirolli/Halle Orchestra Enigma Variations is my preferred performance.

 

One of my favorite recordings of the Enigma Variations is Pierre Monteux and London Symphony, recorded by Decca's Kenneth Wilkinson for RCA Living Stereo in Kingsway Hall, London, on 24-25 June 1958.

As for Elgar's Pathe film, could they have used early Neumann condenser mikes? The sound is quite good for its time.

 

Many thanks for posting.

Music to stir the heart and soul of any Englishman, just sublime.

 

Interesting. Any photos of those mikes, presumably condenser types?