Sir John Barbirolli: Elgar – Cello Concerto, Enigma Variations, Symphonies 1 & 2, Sea Pictures, The Dream of Gerontius, Pomp and Circumstance, Falstaff (24/96 FLAC)

Composer: Edward William Elgar
Performer: Jacqueline du Pré, Dame Janet Baker, Allegri String Quartet
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, Philharmonia Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra
Conductor: Sir John Barbirolli
Number of Discs: 7
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Warner
Catalogue: 9029643842
Release: 2022
Size: 15.9 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover

Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85
01. I. Adagio – Moderato
02. II. Lento – Allegro molto
03. III. Adagio
04. IV. Allegro – Moderato – Allegro ma non troppo

Sea Pictures, Op. 37
05. No. 1, Slumber Song
06. No. 2, In Haven
07. No. 3, Sabbath Morning at Sea
08. No. 4, Where Corals Lie
09. No. 5, The Swimmer

Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47
10. I. Moderato
11. II. Allegro
12. III. Fugue. Allegro

Serenade for Strings in E Minor, Op. 20
13. I. Allegro piacevole
14. II. Larghetto
15. III. Allegretto – Come prima

Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”
16. Theme
17. Introduction – Variation I. L’istesso tempo “C.A.E.”
18. Variation II. Allegro “H.D.S-P.”
19. Variation III. Allegretto “R.B.T.”
20. Variation IV. Allegro di molto “W.M.B.”
21. Variation V. Moderato “R.P.A.”
22. Variation VI. Andantino “Ysobel”
23. Variation VII. Presto “Troyte”
24. Variation VIII. Allegretto “W.N.”
25. Variation IX. Adagio “Nimrod”
26. Variation X. Intermezzo. Allegretto “Dorabella”
27. Variation XI. Allegro di molto “G.R.S.”
28. Variation XII. Andante “B.G.N.”
29. Variation XIII. Romanza. Moderato. “* * *”
30. Variation XIV. Finale. Allegro “E.D.U.”

31. Cockaigne Overture, Op. 40 “In London Town”

Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55
32. I. Andante nobilmente e semplice – Allegro
33. II. Allegro molto
34. III. Adagio
35. IV. IV. Lento – Allegro

Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39
36. No. 1 in D Major
37. No. 2 in A Minor
38. No. 3 in C Minor
39. No. 4 in G Major
40. No. 5 in C Major

Symphony No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 63
41. I. Allegro vivace e nobilmente
42. II. Larghetto
43. III. Rondo. Presto
44. IV. Moderato e maestoso

45. Froissart, Op. 19
46. Sospiri, Op. 70
47. Elegy, Op. 58

Falstaff, Op. 68
48. I. Falstaff and Prince Henry
49. II. Eastcheap – Gadshill – The Boar’s Head. Revelry and Sleep
50. Dream Interlude
51. III. Falstaff’s March – The Return to Gloucestershire
52. Interlude. Shallow’s Orchard – The New King – The Hurried Ride to London
53. IV. King Henry V’s Progress – The Repudiation of Falstaff and His Death

The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38
54. Pt. 1: Prelude. Lento, mistico
55. Pt. 1: Jesu, Maria, I Am Near to Death (Gerontius)
56. Pt. 1: Kyrie eleison – Holy Mary, Pray for Him (Gerontius, Chorus)
57. Pt. 1: Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul (Gerontius, Chorus)
58. Pt. 1: Be Merciful (Gerontius, Chorus)
59. Pt. 1: Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus (Gerontius)
60. Pt. 1: I Can No More (Gerontius, chorus)
61. Pt. 1: Rescue Him, O Lord – Noe from the Waters (Gerontius, Chorus)
62. Pt. 1: Novissima hora est (Chorus, Gerontius)
63. Pt. 1: Proficiscere, anima Christiana (Priest)
64. Pt. 1: Go in the Name of Angels and Archangels (Chorus, Priest)
65. Pt. 2: Andantino
66. Pt. 2: I Went to Sleep (Soul of Gerontius)
67. Pt. 2: My Work Is Done (Soul, Angel)
68. Pt. 2: It Is a Member of That Family – All Hail! My Child and Brother (Angel, Soul)
69. Pt. 2: A Presage Falls (Angel, Soul)
70. Pt. 2: But Hark! – Low-Born Clods of Brute Earth (Soul, Angel, Chorus)
71. Pt. 2: Dispossessed, Aside Thrust (Chorus)
72. Pt. 2: The Mind Bold and Independent (Chorus)
73. Pt. 2: I See Not These False Spirits – There Was a Mortal (Soul, Angel)
74. Pt. 2: Praise to the Holiest (Angel, Chorus, Soul)
75. Pt. 2: Glory To Him – But Hark! A Grand Mysterious Harmony (Sould, Angel, Chorus)
76. Pt. 2: And Now the Threshold – Praise for the Holiest (Soul, Angel, Chorus)
77. Pt. 2: Thy Judgement Now Is Near (Angel, Soul)
78. Pt. 2: Jesu! By That Shuddering Dread (Angel of the Agony, Soul, Chorus)
79. Pt. 2: I Go Before My Judge – Be Merciful, Be Gracious (Angel of the Agony, Soul, Chorus)
80. Pt. 2: Praise to His Name! – Take Me Away (Angel, Soul, Chorus)
81. Pt. 2: Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge (Angel, Soul, Chorus)
82. Pt. 2: Softly and Gently (Angel, Chorus)

Dream Children, Op. 43
83. I. Andante

3 Bavarian Dances, Op. 27:
84. No. 2, Lullaby

Caractacus, Op. 35
85. Scene 4: “Oh! My Warriors” (Caractacus)
86. Scene 2: Sword Song. “Leap, Leap to Light” (Caractacus)

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.