Elgar: Violin Concerto & Serenade for Strings

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James Ehnes has a lovely ripe vibrato and an expressive openness that touches the heart from his first entry. It's when it comes to the balancing of confessional intimacy with symphonic purposefulness... — BBC Music Magazine, January 2008, 3 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 29th Oct 2007
Catalogue No: ONYX4025
Label: Onyx
Length: 61 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

29th September 2008
Gramophone Magazine

January 2008

Editor's Choice
Gramophone Awards

2008

Winner - Concerto

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Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61

Work length48:51

Album only

James Ehnes
Philharmonia Orchestra
Sir Andrew Davis

I. Allegro

Track length17:36

Album only

II. Andante

Track length12:22

$2.00

$2.80

III. Allegro molto

Track length18:53

Album only

Elgar: Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20

Work length12:14

$3.00

$4.20

James Ehnes
Philharmonia Orchestra
Sir Andrew Davis

I. Allegro piacevole

Track length3:25

$1.00

$1.40

II. Larghetto

Track length5:41

$1.00

$1.40

III. Allegretto

Track length3:08

$1.00

$1.40

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About

Favourites, Edward Elgar

James offers his thoughts on some of the very best recordings of the music of Sir Edward Elgar.

Awards, Paul Lewis and the Gramophone Awards 2008

29th September 2008

Recorded live and at rehearsals at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London 17 and 20 May 2007

Reviews

January 2008

James Ehnes has a lovely ripe vibrato and an expressive openness that touches the heart from his first entry. It's when it comes to the balancing of confessional intimacy with symphonic purposefulness that I'm not so convinced. Ehnes does try to drive the music forward in places, but the impression is more of spurts of activity amidst long stretches of dreamy lyricism.

2010

Not since Nigel Kennedy's 1997 EMI remake with Sir Simon Rattle and the CBSO has the Elgar received a recording as thrillingly combustible, imaginative and involving as this.
James Ehnes brings to this great concerto a rapt identification, tingling temperament and glowing ardour. Not only is Ehnes's technical address impeccable and intonation miraculously true, his contribution is remarkable for its intrepid emotional scope, athletic agility and (perhaps above all) jaw-dropping delicacy (nowhere more heart-tuggingly potent than in the finale's accompanied cadenza).
Ehnes is also fortunate in enjoying the support of Sir Andrew Davis, a proven Elgarian whose wonderfully perceptive conducting has authoritative sweep, elasticity and fiery passion to spare as well as a very special understanding of those moments of aching intimacy in which this of all scores abounds: what a ravishing backcloth he provides for the ineffable appearance of the 'Windflower' theme in the same movement; and how affecting are the strings' songful sighs in the ensuing Andante. One or two unruly timpani thwacks aside, the Philharmonia's response exhibits polish, grace and dedication.
Some might take issue with the sound which is a little shrouded and lacking something in alluring bloom (the actual balance is otherwise very much as you would hear from a seat in the stalls).
No matter, this remains a performance of conspicuous pedigree and insight guaranteed to make you fall in love all over again with this sublime music and which can only boost Ehnes's standing as one of the most gifted and charismatic fiddlers around. Davis's utterly unforced and ravishingly moving account of the entrancing Serenade makes a cherishable pendant.

Even before the review was in, a well-meaning soul placed this disc on my desk. This, my benefactor assured me, was not just “another Elgar” for the anniversary – it was something special. So it proves. Ehnes finds glowing tone and inspiration throughout in a beautiful yet penetrating reading. Will it displace my beloved Kennedy or Kang? Time will tell.

Janurary 2008

Not since Nigel Kennedy's 1997 remake with Sir Simon Rattle and the CBSO (EMI, 1/98) have I heard an account of the Elgar as thrillingly combustible, imaginative and involving as this. Davis's utterly unforced and ravishingly moving account of the entrancing Serenade makes a cherishable pendant.

2011 edition

[an] excpetionally subtle and understand account of the Elgar Violin Concerto. [Ehnes's] half-tones are ravishing, and though he uses a wide vibrato the result is anything but sentimental..Andrew Davis's lilting account of the Serenade for Strings makes an excellent fill-up.

May 2014

The fiendish passagework of the third movement seems to cause Ehnes no trouble at all, and there is playing of great poise in the second movement.

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Favourites, Edward Elgar

Awards, Paul Lewis and the Gramophone Awards 2008

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