Search - Elgar, Litton, Royal Phil Orchestra :: Enigma Variations

Winning

David Saemann | 05/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Andrew Litton recorded this CD in 1987, when he was in his mid-20's. The mixture of a young American conductor and a British orchestra in Elgar proves highly appealing. This is one of the best performances of In the South I've heard, in the same league as Solti, George Hurst, and Menuhin's. There is an especially lovely slowing up just before the build up to the coda. The orchestra sounds robust and colorful. We also get a well thought out Enigma Variations. It clocks in at 30 minutes, only 4 minutes slower than the composer's own account. Litton keeps the momentum up throughout the piece. There is a lovely ritard just before the start of Nimrod, keeping up the work's continuity. The Abbey Road organ in the finale is a big plus. As for the Serenade, it could not be played more beautifully. This is one of the rare versions with a full string section that still sounds intimate. Sound engineering throughout the disc is rich and full, if a little raspy at times. This is top of the line Elgar."

Enigma Variations- Must have

David Saemann | 10/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Elgar's cleverly named movements (after his friends) are so individual and skillfully crafted that one cannot help being enthralled by the piece. Combining Elgar with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a lethal combo- producing a simply amazing cd, which is necessary for any orchestral music fans."