Elgar: Enigma Variations | 
 enlarge | Artists: Edward Elgar, John Eliot Gardiner, Wiener Philharmoniker
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $9.98
You Save: $7.00 (41%)
New (26) Used (9) from $8.75
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 49424
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 463265
UPC: 028946326527
EAN: 0028946326527
ASIN: B00005UW3R
Release Date: March 12, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Enigma: Andante | | • | 1. (C.A.E.): L'istesso tempo | | • | 2. (H.D.S.-P.): Allegro | | • | 3. (R.B.T.): Allegretto | | • | 4. (W.M.B.): Allegro di molto | | • | 5. (R.P.A.): Moderato | | • | 6. (Ysobel.): Andantino | | • | 7. (Troyte.): Presto | | • | 8. (W.N.): Allegretto | | • | 9. (Nimrod.): Adagio | | • | 10. Intermezzo (Dorabella): Allegretto | | • | 11. (G.R.S.): Allegro di molto | | • | 12. (B.G.N.): Andante | | • | 13. Romanza (***): Moderato | | • | 14. Finale (E.D.U.): Allegro - Presto |
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| Customer Reviews:
Terrific all Elgar disc December 31, 2007
Southern Man (Raleigh, NC)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
With their muscular introduction of "In the South", Gardiner and the Vienna ensemble serve notice that this will be no ordinary Elgar reading. Fear not, the slow passages are also played beautifully and it all sounds very lush.
One of the benefits of this CD is that all four works are by Elgar and you can listen to the CD from start to finish as a cohesive whole. It is, sadly, too common for the centerpiece of a CD (in this case "Enigma Variations") to be surrounded by poorly chosen or just plain mediocre filler. That's certainly not the case here, as careful consideration was clearly given to the selection and the performance of the entire program.
I was not previously a big fan of "In the South" but I quickly became a convert with the beautiful reading here. The "Introduction and Allegro" provides a nice change of pace to the darker "Sospiri" that follows. I was previously unfamiliar with "Sospiri" and now can't believe how overlooked that piece is - possibly because it's just under six minutes long. But the version here is achingly beautiful and it was brilliant programming to use it to precede the "Enigma Variations". The "Enigma Variations" are possibly Elgar's most popular work and will be most people's primary draw to this disc. The Vienna ensemble plays it as if Elgar were a born Austrian and it works terrifically. There are, perhaps, more notable performances of this fine work but this version holds its own. Combined with the three other Elgar pieces, it's a must own disc and one of the first I'd recommend if shopping for Elgar for the first time.
Enigma January 11, 2007
R. Wood (Leavenworth, KS United States)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
What a wonderful performance of this beloved piece. The orchestra is very responsive to the conductor who is probably one of the finest in our age.
A Moving Experience January 9, 2007
C. Gregory Vogelsang (Buffalo, NY)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
For anyone who enjoys classical music, beware. This is some of the most powerful music this or that side of Beethoven. Excellent sound quality as well, this CD is a real treat.
Great performance; great recording February 12, 2006
L. E Johnson (Raleigh, NC United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
These Enigma Variations are as good as any I've ever heard, and better than most. That dark, fullbodied sound really helps. The Alassio overture is indeed Straussian, and that's no drawback. The great Sospiri, one of the most beautiful works I know, doesn't match Hurst's or Barbirolli's versions precisely because the sound is too big, with an overabundance of strings. But Gardiner's version is still a wonderful experience. Try his Chabrier disc, also with the VPO--it's fine also.
Gardiner shines in Elgar, but it's the orchestra you'll want this CD for September 24, 2005
Santa Fe listener
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
Gardiner is a fairly ordinary conductor technically, not remotely in the same league as the great ones who have appeared with the Vienna Phil. But here the sheer luxury of hearing that amazing orchestra doing Elgar, especially "In the South," makes this a very special CD. I can think of greater readings of each piece, particularly under Barbirolli, but who has ever heard them in such aristocratic surroundings?
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