Longtime fans of English music may well be familiar with
John Barbirolli's magnificent EMI recordings of
Edward Elgar's two symphonies: his noble, dramatic First with its searing Finale, and his ardent, exuberant Second, with its dark night of the soul Larghetto as its core. Listeners who are already familiar with
Barbirolli's performances, as well as anyone new to the works may find this two-disc set worth hearing, in part because of the rarely recorded works that fill out the discs. Preceding the First Symphony is a rousing and rambunctious 1967 recording of
Elgar's hard-charging In the South concert overture, with
Contantin Silvestri and the
Bournemouth Symphony. The Second Symphony, with
Norman del Mar and the
Bournemouth Symphony, is preceded by a richly nostalgic 1967 recording of
Elgar's tender Serenade for Strings. Although not quite in the same league as
Barbirolli's performances, these recordings should interest dedicated Elgarians. The recordings were made in lush stereo sound.