Beyond the Score: Elgar Enigma Variations

[@logodaedalist]

Elgar has a noble soul and he poured it all in his music

[@mikeklimczak9600]

Saw this LIVE. So inspiring and such a wonderful look inside the mind of Elgar. Truly an underrated and under-performed composer.

[@violinhunter2]

The mystery theme is Through the Wood, Laddie. That's my final answer.

[@daviddavenport9350]

Not so much anymore!

[@kennethdobson7899]

This should be required for all music majors and for anyone who thinks they understand the Victorian era.

[@bobareebop]

Indeed! Excellent advice.

[@daviddavenport9350]

I think of him more of an Edwardian, but OK!

[@evanofelipe]

These variations always move me, such is their power. There’s something in Elgar’s orchestral arrangement that stirs the soul. It’s magic.

[@stevieb6368]

A fantastic achievement. Wonderfully presented by all performers supported by beautiful images and films of the Malvern Hills and the Herefordshire Beacon (or British Camp), as well as Elgar himself and some of the important houses and buildings relevant to Elgar's life, family friends, and music; and great to hear and see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under maestro Dutoit in action. The Solti/Chicago recording of this work is one of my favourite versions. Whatever the Enigma was, if there really was one - which I doubt - went with Elgar to his grave. It is often a fruitless and quite pointless exercise in trying to guess what composers mean by the music they write. It is the music of Elgar - a self-taught master of orchestration - that stands the true test of time. That's why we listen to this wonderfully original masterpiece and the rest of Elgar's music. It always touches the soul if you let it. Bravo to all concerned.

[@sospiroso]

Elgar was an amazing composer undeniably up there with Mozart and Beethoven and he wrote some of the most beautiful music you can imagine. I am currently sharing my love for Elgar's music by playing some new arrangements for violin and piano so people can appreciate the full range of his output in "Elgar Through The Years"......... Enjoy😊

[@plumjam]

This is superb. Only 540 views and no comments in fifteen months? Criminal.

[@oddball8974]

Adrian Grant spectacular

[@violinhunter2]

Grant: Perhaps if the CSO had titled this video something like "Charles Dutoit conducts Unforgettable Enigma Variations with the Chicago Symphony" Nowadays, the packaging often means more to the buyer than the content. (Unfortunately)

[@violinhunter2]

Is that delicious woman at 41:30 Alison Dalton?

[@plumjam]

I don't know, but she's Definitely Delicious :)

[@violinhunter2]

@paul w I guess i could do that but then, I would be interrupting a very nice concert. I want to be a gentleman about it.

[@RobinHillyard]

Outstanding.

[@daviddavenport9350]

Arguably the finest set of variations for Orchestra ever composed.....every little gesture seems related to the first few bars of the Theme....it is uncanny!

[@djmulhall]

Great production. The actors and actress were great! The "Englishness" won't be everyone's 'cup of tea' but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Elgar is a superb composer and a master of orchestration.

[@turmuthoer]

What's wrong with Englishness?

[@ZJStrudwick]

​@@turmuthoer Just that it's an English accent that is about as well done as a blue steak ;)

[@donaldforbes3458]

the trouble with the English is that they are so English. So Irritating. It should be said in Elgar's defence that he was an Uzbek at heart.

[@clivepearsall6616]

I thought that this is most beautifully done. In fact, I was brought close to tears by it, at times

[@MrGreencheetah]

Yes, it's very moving.

[@garyjlabbe8050]

This was so impressive! I have deeply loved this piece of music for close to 50 years now. Music of such profound affection and love. I have read much about the Enigma, so I was astonished at the wealth of new revelations revealed through the letters and diaries of Alice, Elgar, Dorabella, Jaeger, etc. To actually hear of the specific context and moment portrayed in the Nimrod variation! Absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for posting!

[@sdoherty5988]

Such inexpressible love and tenderness translated into the most sublime music. What a soul Elgar had.

[@patriciacusworth9311]

Beautiful eternal never aging

[@composernotes]

brilliant presentation!

[@emilybrockett7739]

Thank you very much for sharing this, it was truly enthralling!

[@gillesg4793]

Très intéressant ... surtout pour travailler cette oeuvre !

[@songsmith31a]

An entertaining addition to an enduring concert piece, given by a first rate orchestra and supporting forces.

[@pereira204100]

Simply amazing. Superb

[@archangecamilien1879]

0:20 yes, haha...something I often say...you can't establish a piece of art is good, it's subjective, each person will have their own opinion...

[@alvarito45]

After having learned all this fabulous story I have explained to my mind why I was bewitched since the very first time I listened this Master Piece by Sir Edward Elgar.

[@adamlewis8518]

Wonderful, finally, it's no longer quite so enigmatic! But then again......

[@charlescoleman5509]

Recently someone suggested that the missing theme is the opening of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. I think we have a winner!

[@andrewroberts8139]

The slight change in the female violinist's face when she plays Nimrod - a memory perhaps? Or just moved by the deep, deep beauty

[@michaelroehrig4902]

Fantastic job...so interesting to hear and see the backstory. Well done!

[@ashleyswu2012]

great! can you possibly add more from this great series, especially the Miraculous Mandarin.

[@liammcooper]

fascinating

[@adam28xx]

When you click "Show more" under 'Music in this video' it states that the artists are the London Philharmonic and Sir Adrian Boult. Yet the video reveals the players to be Charles Dutoit and the Chicago Symphony. Does no-one at the CSO realize that as a result of this claim, Orchard Music are raking in royalties for Regis Records based on the number of views this video receives? They should dispute the claim and have it removed, as it is completely fraudulent!

[@violinhunter2]

The mystery theme is Through the Wood, Laddie. I know someone who knows most of the string players in the CSO, but, that's irrelevant.

[@jonbates9386]

In the nicest possible way I really am not sure how you relate the two themes - I always thought the Enigma theme was simply based around his name - Edward Elgar fits the opening phrases. And he loved jokes and conundrums - maybe he added a few more words to extend the opening melody. Who knows?

[@violinhunter2]

@@jonbates9386 The CSO's video of the Ninth has about 25 million views - this one has very few, comparatively. I wonder how that can be. In any case, I got the idea from Bruch's well-known "violin concerto" - his Scottish Fantasy. One of the movements in that work is based on Through the Wood, Laddie.

[@violinhunter2]

That section at 38:34 is reminiscent of one of the Brahms symphonies - I don't know which one. It also reminds me of one of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances - again, I don't know which one.

[@jonbates9386]

@@violinhunter2 Dvorak earworm? - Think its the E minor Op 73 No 2 Slavonic Dance - Brahms...know what you mean, for some reason my first reaction was one of the St Anthony variations but there again..... I'll get back to ya when the brain flags it up!! I feel that the links are really more down to the scoring with the strings doing broad melodies in octaves quite high in the register - Elgar has such a command of orchestral textures.

[@violinhunter2]

It's interesting that the careers of Picasso and Elgar were saved by German businessmen.

[@penfold7800]

twinkle twinkle little star

[@RobertPadgett]

At approximately 3:33 in the presentation the narrator divulges the covert Theme to the Enigma Variations: “A Mighty Fortress.” To learn more about the secrets of the Enigma Variations, visit enigmathemeunmasked.blogspot.com/2012/09/table-of-contents.html?m=0

[@palladin331]

When was this recorded?

[@andrewroberts8139]

Some interesting elisions here - we're told Mrs Fitton "gave up" her piano career to raise a family, weirdly skating over the fact that in the patriarchal society of Elgar's time, she wouldn't have had much choice about giving about her career after getting married.

[@musical_lolu4811]

So?

[@starrynight1657]

No different to most other societies. Women didn't fight in wars either.

[@composerdoh]

Does anyone know who the actors are?

[@latipacreenigne]

Enigma Dechipred

[@andresmata4949]

Ok transpose Britannia Rules the waves Never Never shall be slaves we will never know the hidden melody ....