ELGAR: CELLO CONCERTO, ENIGMA VARIATIONS, SYMPHONIES 1 & 2, SEA PICTURES AND MORE - JOHN BARBIROLLI (7 CDS)

Sir John Barbirolli began as an orchestral cellist, and played under Elgar's baton in the premiere of the Cello Concerto. Encouraged by Elgar, he moved into conducting and made his mark with the composer's Second Symphony in 1927. After Elgar's death, Barbirolli vowed to make the composer's music his special mission in life and to do his utmost to make it known all over the world. From the performances here, we can judge how well he kept his promise.

Disc 1 -
1 Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: I. Adagio - Moderato
2 Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: II. Lento - Allegro Molto
3 Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: III. Adagio
4 Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: IV. Allegro - Moderato - Allegro Ma Non Troppo

• Jacqueline du Pré (cello)
• London Symphony Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

5 Sea Pictures, Op. 37: No. 1, Slumber Song
6 Sea Pictures, Op. 37: No. 2, in Haven
7 Sea Pictures, Op. 37: No. 3, Sabbath Morning at Sea
8 Sea Pictures, Op. 37: No. 4, Where Corals Lie
9 Sea Pictures, Op. 37: No. 5, the Swimmer

• Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano)
• London Symphony Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

- Disc 2 -
1 Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47: I. Moderato
2 Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47: II. Allegro
3 Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47: III. Fugue. Allegro

• Allegri String Quartet (string quartet)
• Sinfonia of London
• Sir John Barbirolli

4 Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20: I. Allegro Piacevole
5 Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20: II. Larghetto
6 Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20: III. Allegretto - Come Prima

• Sinfonia of London
• Sir John Barbirolli

7 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Theme
8 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Introduction - Variation I. L'istesso Tempo "C.A.E."
9 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation II. Allegro "H.D.S-P."
10 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation III. Allegretto "R.B.T."
11 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation IV. Allegro Di Molto "W.M.B."
12 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation V. Moderato "R.P.A."
13 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation VI. Andantino "Ysobel"
14 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation VII. Presto "Troyte"
15 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation VIII. Allegretto "W.N."
16 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation IX. Adagio "Nimrod"
17 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation X. Intermezzo. Allegretto "Dorabella"
18 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation XI. Allegro Di Molto "G.R.S."
19 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation XII. Andante "B.G.N."
20 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation XIII. Romanza. Moderato. "* * *"
21 Variations on An Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma": Variation XIV. Finale. Allegro "E.D.U."

• Philharmonia Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

22 Cockaigne Overture, Op. 40 "In London Town"

• Philharmonia Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

- Disc 3 -
1 Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55: I. Andante Nobilmente E Semplice - Allegro
2 Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55: II. Allegro Molto
3 Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55: III. Adagio
4 Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55: IV. IV. Lento - Allegro

• Philharmonia Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

5 Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39: No. 1 in D Major
6 Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39: No. 4 in G Major

• Philharmonia Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

- Disc 4 -
1 Symphony No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 63: I. Allegro Vivace E Nobilmente
2 Symphony No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 63: II. Larghetto
3 Symphony No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 63: III. Rondo. Presto
4 Symphony No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 63: IV. Moderato E Maestoso

• Hallé Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

- Disc 5 -
1 Froissart, Op. 19

• New Philharmonia Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

2 Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39: No. 2 in a Minor
3 Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39: No. 3 in C minor
4 Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39: No. 5 in C Major

• New Philharmonia Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

5 Sospiri, Op. 70

• New Philharmonia Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

6 Elegy, Op. 58

• New Philharmonia Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

7 Falstaff, Op. 68: I. Falstaff and Prince Henry
8 Falstaff, Op. 68: II. Eastcheap - Gadshill - the Boar's Head. Revelry and Sleep
9 Falstaff, Op. 68: Dream Interlude
10 Falstaff, Op. 68: III. Falstaff's March - the Return to Gloucestershire
11 Falstaff, Op. 68: Interlude. Shallow's Orchard - the New King - the Hurried Ride to London
12 Falstaff, Op. 68: IV. King Henry V's Progress - the Repudiation of Falstaff and His Death

• Hallé Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

- Disc 6 -
1 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Prelude. Lento, Mistico
2 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Jesu, Maria, I Am Near to Death (Gerontius)
3 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Kyrie Eleison - Holy Mary, Pray for Him (Gerontius, Chorus)
4 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul (Gerontius, Chorus)
5 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Be Merciful (Gerontius, Chorus)
6 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Deus (Gerontius)
7 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: I Can No More (Gerontius, Chorus)
8 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Rescue Him, O Lord - Noe from the Waters (Gerontius, Chorus)
9 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Novissima Hora Est (Chorus, Gerontius)
10 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Proficiscere, Anima Christiana (Priest)
11 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 1: Go in the Name of Angels and Archangels (Chorus, Priest)

- Disc 7 -
1 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: Andantino
2 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: I Went to Sleep (Soul of Gerontius)
3 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: My Work Is Done (Soul, Angel)
4 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: It Is a Member of That Family - All Hail! My Child and Brother (Angel, Soul)
5 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: A Presage Falls (Angel, Soul)
6 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: But Hark! - Low-Born Clods of Brute Earth (Soul, Angel, Chorus)
7 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: Dispossessed, Aside Thrust (Chorus)
8 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: The Mind Bold and Independent (Chorus)
9 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: I See Not These False Spirits - There Was a Mortal (Soul, Angel)
10 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: Praise to the Holiest (Angel, Chorus, Soul)
11 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: Glory to Him - But Hark! a Grand Mysterious Harmony (Sould, Angel, Chorus)
12 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: And Now the Threshold - Praise for the Holiest (Soul, Angel, Chorus)
13 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: Thy Judgement Now Is Near (Angel, Soul)
14 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: Jesu! By That Shuddering Dread (Angel of the Agony, Soul, Chorus)
15 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: I Go Before My Judge - Be Merciful, Be Gracious (Angel of the Agony, Soul, Chorus)
16 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: Praise to His Name! - Take Me Away (Angel, Soul, Chorus)
17 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge (Angel, Soul, Chorus)
18 The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: Softly and Gently (Angel, Chorus)

• Richard Lewis (tenor), Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano)
• Hallé Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers, Hallé Choir, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus
• Sir John Barbirolli

19 Dream Children, Op. 43: I. Andante
20 3 Bavarian Dances, Op. 27: No. 2, Lullaby

• Hallé Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

21 Caractacus, Op. 35, Scene 4: "Oh! My Warriors" (Caractacus)

• Peter Dawson (baritone)
• Unknown Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli

22 Caractacus, Op. 35, Scene 2: Sword Song. "Leap, Leap to Light" (Caractacus)

• Peter Dawson (baritone)
• Unknown Orchestra
• Sir John Barbirolli