Elgar: Cello Concerto / Sea Pictures

This CD contains works by Edward Elgar, the 20th century British composer. The primary piece on the CD is Elgar's famous cello concerto performed by the virtuoso performer Jacqueline du Pre. I bought this CD for the cello concerto, and was very impressed by du Pre's performance. Sadly she died at the age of 42, depriving the classical world of an outstanding performer. The other work on the CD was not to my liking. "Sea Pictures" is the title of five vocal pieces for mezzo-soprano. I thought the pairing of a vocal work with the cello concerto was inappropriate. Why not pair the cello concerto with Elgar's violin concerto ? The vocal work is close to the same length as the cello concerto, and so takes up apprx half the CD. I don't listen to that. If you're a fan of mezzo-soprano singer Janet Baker, then perhaps you'll be very pleased with the pairing of her performance with du Pre's cello. I was not pleased. But, that being said, fans of Elgar's cello work ought to have a recording by the virtuoso who practically made the work her own. Others have done fine recordings (such as Yo Yo Ma), but I do recommend this CD for the recording of du Pre. Hence i awarded the cd three stars because I think the pairing of the vocal work with the string work was a mistake.

The performances are excellent, and the recordings themselves are very good.

Ordered a used EMI definitive recording of Elgar's two masterpieces, as opposed to the "new" Warner Classics reissue, because I have found at least one of the 37 discs in the Warner Classics Benjamin Britten box set to be defective. The used EMI recording is certainly "like new," however the source labeled it. Thank you again.

The best rendition of Elgar's cello concerto. A young Du Pre, mastering the cello dynamics and sound. This is a must have in any classical collection.

Nobody played more beautiful cello music than Jacqueline du Pre, and this recording -- said never to have been out of print in 40 years -- is du Pre at the zenith of her considerable powers.

Excellent piece of work by one of our contemporary composer I had the vinyl LP but I was pleased to find it in CD! Worth having in CD form

The Good:- Du Pré's legengary recording in glorious digital compact disc.The Bad:- Elgar's sea pictures as a filler: they're not bad songs, but they are not the greatest either. I was just interested in the cello concerto.The Ugly:- Nothing.Additional comments: Initially, I thought Du Pré's recording was overrated. I listened to Heinrich Schiff's recording with the Staatskapelle Dresden and Yo-Yo Ma's recording also with the London Symphony Orchestra; Schiff's recording sounds way too German (if that even makes sense), and Ma's recording sounds good but not as hot as Du Pré's. Jacqueline was and still is incomparable.

This 1997 EMI re-release features the 1965 recording of the cello concerto, performed by a twenty-year-old prodigy and conducted by a cellist who performed in the orchestra in 1919 when the composer conducted the premiere. The music reflects Elgar's great melancholy depression brought on by World War One, of which he wrote "Everything good & nice & clean & fresh & sweet is far away, never to return". We don't have the benefit of a recording of the premiere, but I can't imagine it surpasses the beauty of this rendition. Du Pre's performance reflects both a technical and emotional mastery of the music that is hard to find in performers twice her age. The LSO's accompaniment is both well-balanced and well-executed, keeping time fluently throughout the soloist's numerous tempo changes; in particular, the last movement's challenges are well met by the woodwinds. I do not know why cellists continue to record this concerto; it's been done to perfection.In contrast to the concerto, the Sea Pictures, written at the turn of the last century, are much more optimistic and, well, British. Sea Pictures is better understood as a collection of songs, with changing moods and styles. As in all songs with English lyrics, one of the greatest challenges is ensuring that the words are actually understandable. This challenge is met redoubtably by Dame Janet Baker, one of the great British operatic stars of her time. The emotions, while less shaded and ambivalent than the cello concerto, are carried well by both soloist and orchestra. Sea Pictures is a worthy accompaniment to the concerto.I recommend this recording for anyone interested in the cello, or the Elgar Cello Concerto.

For me, as a central European from Slovakia, Germans and Austrians have always been the leading force in classical music (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven), with some Chopin, Liszt and Russian composers thrown in for good measure. That said, the British classical music is not very known to us, with Holst and Britten mentioned rather often, but it is this CD that has been recommended to me as one of the top classical recordings of the 20th Century, according to a British source. And what a wonderful disc it is!Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto is a deep well of beauty, refined and accessible at the same time. Personally I hear a drop of Handel and sometimes a small bit of Bruckner in Elgar's music, but he remains his very own, a Brit treasure. And when you add the fact that the soloist is the late, great Jacqueline du Pré, you have a perfect match – with unobtrusive London Symphonics too. But what enhances this CD even more, are the Sea Pictures, sung by Dame Janet Baker. These operatic miniatures beautifully complement Elgar musical language, emiting class, elegance and feeling, as if you were virtually standing on the seashore, relishing in the beautiful, human-created sounds.Ultimately recommended.

I recently heard this piece with the Halle and was curious to hear this original. I was pleased that I bought this recording and have lent it to my friend who was at the concert with me and am curious to hear her view.

I derive much pleasure from the rose named after her which flowers over a long period in my garden. It may seem odd but this was the reason I came upon this music, which has also provided long lasting enjoyment.

This is an old recording but it is a superb combination. No one else has ever sung the Sea Pictures like Baker, and few have matched the passion of Du Pre playing the Elgar concerto.

Great performances from a renowned cellist and highly esteemed singer.