Search - Edward Elgar, John Barbirolli, New Philharmonia Orchestra :: Elgar: Pomp & circumstance marches Nos. 1-5; Froissart; Cockaigne

Nice Pomp, But Enough of the Cockaigne!

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 11/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD from EMI's "British Composers" series presents outstanding renditions of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" and the "Froissart" Concert Overture performed by conductor Sir John Barbirolli. Made over two sessions in 1962 and 1966, the "Pomp" recording is rivaled only by Sir Adrain Boult's in my opinion. My problem with this disc, and my reason for withholding a fifth star, has to do with the Cockaigne Overture. This work was one of JB's signature pieces, so the performance is not in question whatsoever. What does get my dander up (and those who have read my other reviews will already know this) is the needless duplication of this exact same performance on three different EMI titles, all of which I own. Its inclusion on the EMI Seraphim title featuring Boult's "Pomp" can be overlooked since it is a budget-line disc, but to have it leading off the CD of JB's Elgar Symphony No. 1, in the very same "British Composers" series, is outrageous. Serious collectors will obviously be buying both titles. Just because it is a special Cockaigne, doesn't mean it should be added to every EMI Elgar disc that logs in at less than 60 minutes!"