Elgar: Enigma Variations and Introduction & Allegro

The Variations on an original theme, or ’Enigma’ as they are commonly known, brought Elgar overnight fame when they appeared in 1899. The music is glorious from start to finish, especially in the serene 'Nimrod'. Each variation is given a cryptic title referring to one of Elgar’s friends although the overall enigma behind the original theme has never been deciphered.

LSO0609  47 minutes 54 seconds
‘‘Of all the issues to mark the 150th anniversary of Elgar's birth, few will be more distinguished than these masterful accounts … you have an Enigma Variations as beautifully paced and played as ...
'Colin Davis's LSO Live recordings of the Elgar symphonies are already jewels in the label's crown, so this release brought with it high expectations. Davis's way with Elgar is always a fairly flexibl ...
'[Sir Colin Davis] has always been a great Elgarian … their Enigma, captured at the beginning of this year [2007], is one of the most beautifully played I can recall, and certainly one of the mos ...