Elgar Enigma Variations & Cockaigne Overture - Sir John Barbirolli Philharmonia Orchestra
Artist(s):
Conductor – Sir John Barbirolli
Orchestra – The Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording Info: Engineer – Harold Davidson
Producer – Victor Olof
Recorded by EMI on 9th May and 27th August 1962
1 Enigma Variations, Op.36, Theme (Andante) And Variations
2 Ouverture Cockaigne (In London Town) Op.40
Please Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master
then the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using
Merging Technologies Album Publishing.
DXD (352.8KHz 24/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings
Play Sample Tracks
- Reviews
- Questions
Thank you for submitting a review!
Your input is very much appreciated. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too!
Classic Cockaigne
This was Barbirolli’s second stereo Enigma. As has been remarked on numerous occasions it is slower than his Halle version, does sometimes feel rather tired and there is no organ in the finale. Nevertheless the string phrasing in Variation 5 is marvellous and the woodwind scherzando passages (which, as marked, are in the same tempo) are appealingly whimsical. However the great glory of the performance is Variation 12, which from the brief opening cello solo Barbirolli sees as a profound elegy, gloriously sung by the Philharmonia strings. The Cockaigne Overture on the other hand is well-nigh definitive. Barbirolli was born in the East End of London and everything about the performance is right. He always chooses the tempo justo, effortlessly segues between the different sections, all of which are brilliantly characterised and the Philharmonia play beautifully (for those interested in the art of conducting Elgar overtures, it is also worth acquiring Barbirolli’s magnificent, vividly recorded, live Alassio on BBC Legends). The DSD256 transfer is similarly superb. Compared to the Warner Classics 24/192 remastering the image sounds much more like the white and gold ASD LP it was compared to, having more space in and around the orchestra (basically more of the acoustic is retained) the instrumental timbres are far more analogue, there is no digital glare and although the string tone isn’t quite as rich as on the LP, the dynamic range is greater.
A lovely, lyrical performance in an excellent sounding transfer
Barbirolli recorded the Enigma Variations on three separate occasions in 1947, 1956 and this final recording in 1962. Of the three, this is his most broadly relaxed, expansive and lyrical rendition. He captures, and lingers over, the delicate details in the music; it is a lover's embrace that emphasizes the romantic beauty of the music. Yet it retains a tremendous range of dynamics and great orchestral power. By contrast, the 1956 performance (also available from HDTT) is direct, ripping, occasionally salacious. It gives a more heightened characterization to each of the sketches. It also has an added benefit of being recorded by Mercury Records on contract to Pye Records. And it also has the benefit of each sketch being separately tracked so you can easily find the one you're looking for. Still, this EMI recording dominated the market on release, and it is a superb performance and recording. It's all a matter of choosing your flavors. For many this more expansive performance will be just the ticket to enjoying this music. I enjoy it very much when I simply sit back to let the music flow over me and not focus on listening for characterizations of the individual sketches. Listening the the DSD256 transfer, the sound quality is excellent, with all the analog beauty, resolution, and natural instrumental sound one might wish for. The transfer is very clean and open, with very low noise floor.
DSD256, DSD128 & DSD64 Direct Stream Digital formats are only playable on compatible hardware and software.
24bit 352.8kHz PCM Flac (DXD) DXD is only playable on compatible hardware and software.
24bit 192khz PCM Flac is playable on most all playback devices
24bit 96khz PCM Flac is playable on most all playback devices
Go Here for more detailed Info
Please Note: Playback on Apple media players will require converting the file to the required format.
Gold Premium Compact Disc 300+ years longevity - The recording layer resists UV and heat better than other discs. Includes Complete Jewel case and Liner Notes
Regular Premium Compact Disc Includes Complete Jewel case and Liner Notes Budget Compact Disc contains only the disc without jewel case or liner notes
Please Note: The Gold CD is not offered in the Budget line Some titles do not offer the Budget option
Please allow 7-10 days for CD production time.