Elgar: Violin Concerto; Piano Concerto; Polonia Crown of India; Civic Fanfare

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:56 +0000

“(Concerto): Hickox unfurls the opening tutti richly, nobley, purposefully … no lack of brilliance, the fireworks are dashingly, tastefully despatched … sudden flashes of Paganinian dazzle”
(others): “The slow movement of the Piano Concerto … with a sympathetic performance from Margaret Fingerhut. Douglas Bostock is persuasive with his Elgarian rubato, which is what matters most.” (Gramophone)
“Polonia is to my mind, one of the finest works Elgar wrote … The nail-biting martial music mixes with spine-tingling Polish themes to reach a gloriously romantic and bombastic conclusion … a splendid reading by Bostock. The disc receives one of Classico’s best recordings to date with painstaking preparation in evidence throughout as his Munich players play with true commitment and dedication” (MusicWeb)

Violin Concerto in B minor, Op.61 (1910) [46:47]

[1] I. Allegro 16:53

[2] II. Andante 11:36

[3] III. Allegro molto 18:17

[4] Piano Concerto, Op.90 (slow mvt) (transcr. P.Young 1956) 6:06

(Margaret Fingerhut, piano)

[5] Polonia, Op.76 (Symphonic Prelude) 1915 12:47

The Crown of India Op.66 (exc) 1912:

[6] March 4:26

[7] Hail Immemorial Ind ! 6:33

(Mette Christina Ostergaard, mezzo)

[8] Civic Fanfare (Hereford, Three Choirs Festival, 1927) 1:22

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:39:13 +0000

“Jolly Cotswolds Symphony… shows the Holstian flair for colourful orchestration and has folksy influence….Scherzo an attractive dance rhythm…..and finale a striking tune in 6/4…in the Perfect Fool we hear the composer at his most inspired …and like the whole programme, it is most vividly played and recorded… remarkable how well this fine Munich orchestra takes to English music” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

Symphony in F major, Op.8 “The Cotswolds”

[1] I. Allegro con brio 3:56
[2] II. Elegy (In Memoriam William Morris) Molto adagio 9:59
[3] III. Scherzo: Presto. Allegretto 5:58
[4] IV Finale: Allegro moderato 7:27
[5] Walt Whitman Overture, Op.7 7:35

A Hampshire Suite, Op.28, No.2 (arr. Jacobs)

[6] I. March: Allegro 4:59
[7] II. Song Without Words: I’ll Love My Love (Andante) 2:21
[8] III. Song of the Blacksmith: Moderato e maestoso 1:22
[9] IV. Fantasia on the Dargason: Allegro moderato 3:19

The Perfect Fool Ballet Music, Op.39

[10] Andante 0:57
[11] Dance of Spirits of Earth: Moderato 4:00
[12] Dance of Spirits of Water: Allegretto 3:36
[13] Dance of Spirits of Fire: Allegro moderato 3:32
[14] Scherzo for orchestra (from an unfinished symphony) 5:55

Munich Symphony Orchestra – Alto CD

Elgar: Violin Concerto; Piano Concerto; Polonia Crown of India; Civic Fanfare

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)