Complete Symphonies

Edward Elgar (Composer), André Previn (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: André Previn
• Composer: Edward Elgar
• Audio CD (September 17, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000041F0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,320 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Value for your Money, April 10, 2000

By 

KH (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Symphonies (Audio CD)

This set provides excellent value for your money. The 1st Symphony is one of the best recordings--Previn does not allow the work to ramble, yet doesn't shortchange the emotion either. The 2nd Symphony is very good, though not quite at the top rank--there is some deeper emotions and inner darkness Previn does not completely bring out (Edward Downes and the BBC Phil on Naxos are my first choice here). The fillers (marches and overture) and again very good, though I would go with Boult (EMI) for my only recording of the marches and Barbirolli (EMI) for my only recording of the overture.

Sound is first class; orchestral playing ditto; price is right. And the 1st Symphony essential...

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Greatest Symphony of Modern Times", January 5, 2003

By 

David Robinson (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Symphonies (Audio CD)

Hans Richter called Elgar's first symphony the "greatest symphony of modern times" and to my taste it's the most important symphony since Mozart's 40th. Elgar stumbled on a simple, noble theme, quite unlike the folk-song melodies of his younger contemporary, Vaughan Williams. This motto theme drives the whole symphony through to the last movement where it reappears, deconstructed with massive brass and percussion chords punctuating its marchlike theme, but decidedly off the beat like random thunder.

First performed in 1908 just before the First World War, the symphony as a whole is like a tone picture of the Victorian/Edwardian era marching off into the sunset.

Why is it that auslanders can get the English sound better than any native born knight? Here we have German-American Andre Previn at the peak of his powers. He is clearly at one with the Royal Philharmonic and he manages the quirky rhythms expertly. The performance has great force, and indeed nobility--not bombast.

The addition of the less popular second symphony and the Pomp and Circumstance marches make this two-disc set an excellent value. If you've dismissed Elgar as trivial on the basis of the cliche'd Pomp and Circumstance, buy this set to experience a real English genius. When you play it, the world will briefly stop turning on its axis.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Value for the Money, May 2, 2005

By 

Darin Tysdal (Bloomington, MN 55420) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Complete Symphonies (Audio CD)

I just picked this set up again used and reminded myself how good Previn's Elgar 1st is. It was the first recording of this work that I listened to, and it still holds up well. The second was never released in this country by itself on either lp or cd, so its appearance here is welcome. It is a trifle bit slow (but not as slow as Sinoppoli's) and is a bit wanting in forward movement. There is more of this in both Downes' (Naxos) and Menhuin's (Virgin) readings. The pomp and circumstance marches are also very well done. The 2nd one is severely cut, however (it only runs 3 minutes) but it is not rushed off its feet like in Menhuin's recording. Cockaigne is also sober but has a good spirit about it also. Sound is very good-in fact, I can't tell the difference between digital sound then and digital sound now. It just shows you the high standards that the CD medium has continued to exhibit throughout the years.