- Symphony No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 63
Performed by the Staatskapelle Berlin, conducted by Daniel Barenboim.
Following his recording of Elgar’s Cello Concerto with Alisa Weilerstein, Daniel Barenboim turns to the Elgar symphonies. The Second Symphony is released first, performed by the Staatskapelle Berlin. The First Symphony by Elgar will follow in 2015.
The symphony’s movements are:
1. Allegro vivace e nobilmente
2. Larghetto
3. Rondo. Presto
4. Moderato e maestoso
The Guardian wrote of the Cello Concerto recording:
“To hear an orchestra with such a distinctive central European sound playing Elgar, and relating his music so securely to the wider late-romantic tradition, is one of the disc’s great pleasures.”
The second symphony opens with what is known as the “Spirit of Delight” theme in E-flat major, which reappears several times throughout the movement.
Here is Elgar’s Second Symphony with Daniel Harding, conducting the London Symphony Orchestra:
And next, here is the second movement (Larghetto) from the second symphony:
Tags: Edward Elgar, Symphony #2, Barenboim, Staatskapelle Berlin
