Sir John Barbirolli – Elgar: Enigma Variations, Op. 36 – Purcell: Suite (1957/2021) [FLAC 24bit/192kHz]

Sir John Barbirolli heads the Hallé Orchestra to present this legacy programme of works from English composers Sir Edward Elgar and Henry Purcell.

Warner Classics releases this stunning recording as part of a brand new series, The Complete Warner Recordings.

Spanning over 40 years, these recordings trace the career of Sir John Barbirolli, a conductor of proverbial warmth and generosity, a transformative force in British music and a legendary figure who collaborated with the greatest artists of his time. Shortly before his death in 1970 he completed a Sibelius cycle with the Hallé Orchestra, whose fortunes he had steered for nearly three decades, and among other composers closely linked with his name are Elgar, Delius, Brahms, Mozart, Mahler and Puccini. The wide-ranging contents of this landmark set, which comprises all the recordings Barbirolli made for HMV and PYE. Everything has been remastered in high definition, LP-era recordings from the original tapes, and 78-era recordings from the best available sources.

Tracklist

1. Hallé Orchestra – Suite for Strings, Woodwinds and Horns: I. Andante maestoso – Allegro (After The Gordian Knot Untied, Z. 597)
2. Hallé Orchestra – Suite for Strings, Woodwinds and Horns: II. Tempo do menuetto (After The Virtuous Wife, Z. 611)
3. Hallé Orchestra – Suite for Strings, Woodwinds and Horns: III. Andantino (After King Arthur, Z. 628)
4. Hallé Orchestra – Suite for Strings, Woodwinds and Horns: IV. Allegrettto giocoso (After Abdelazar, Z. 570)
5. Hallé Orchestra – Suite for Strings, Woodwinds and Horns: V. Largo (After Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626)
6. Hallé Orchestra – Suite for Strings, Woodwinds and Horns: VI. Allegro (After King Arthur, Z. 628)
7. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Theme
8. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Introduction – Variation I. L’istesso tempo “C.A.E.”
9. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation II. Allegro “H.D.S-P.”
10. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation III. Allegretto “R.B.T.”
11. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation IV. Allegro di molto “W.M.B.”
12. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation V. Moderato “R.P.A.”
13. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation VI. Andantino “Ysobel”
14. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation VII. Presto “Troyte”
15. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation VIII. Allegretto “W.N.”
16. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation IX. Adagio “Nimrod”
17. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation X. Intermezzo. Allegretto “Dorabella”
18. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation XI. Allegro di molto “G.R.S.”
19. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation XII. Andante “B.G.N.”
20. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation XIII. Romanza. Moderato “***”
21. Hallé Orchestra – Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”: Variation XIV. Finale. Allegro “E.D.U.”