Customer Reviews

Complete Symphonies

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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...

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.

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.

If these are not the greatest Elgar recordings you'll come across, they'll end up being a close second. For the money they're hard to top and make a fine introduction to Elgar's music. His two symphonies along with the popular Pomp and Circumstance Marches and Cockaigne are a fine addition to your collection. Andre Previn has made some wonderful recordings of British music including the symphonies of Vaughan Williams. All have good sound quality for the time and have been carefully re-mastered for CD.

I can only echo what the Amazon reviewers have said about Previn's great recording of Elgar's First Symphony. At this two-fer price, it's worth getting this set for the First alone--but the remainder of this 2-CD set is more variable. Previn's recording of the Second Symphony is less successful; in fact, it only starts to come to life about halfway through. The "Pomp & Circumstance" Marches 1-5 and "Cockaigne" Overture are okay, but there are better performances of these. Another bargain-priced duo with more consistently fine performances of both symphonies is available on Virgin Classics conducted by the late Yehudi Menuhin, who as a teenager performed Elgar's Violin Concerto under the composer's direction.

....just listening to Previn's performance, and it just hit me - the second movement of this symphony HAD TO have influenced John Williams in his composition of the Imperial March in the Star Wars soundtrack - it is that blatant - and appropriate to the British nature of The Empire (in Lucas' casting choices!)

Don't know how I've missed this connection all these years - but had to share it with someone - why not the amazon community?

As to the performances themselves - I agree and Symphony #1 is superior to the second. But I think that also reflects the nature of the two works. I know I'm in a minority, but I've always enjoyed Haitink in the 2nd symphony.

At the two-fer price, these are performances to cherish.