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Elgar's Enigma Variations

Elgar, Dvorák and Butterworth frame Stephen Hough as soloist in the European premiere of his own Piano Concerto, performed by the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Sir Mark Elder.

"Edward, that's a good tune!"

So said Elgar's wife Alice after hearing him doodle some ideas at the piano one evening in 1898. After replying that "something might be made of it", Elgar's tune turned out to inspire arguably the greatest of all English works, the 'Enigma' Variations. Sir Mark Elder has championed English music with the Hallé throughout his career, and tonight is no exception: George Butterworth's poignant rhapsody A Shropshire Lad follows a celebration of 24 years of creative collaboration with "keyboard colossus" Stephen Hough. He'll perform the European premiere of his Piano Concerto (The World of Yesterday): "think a cocktail of Korngold, Ginastera, Walton, Barber – but none of them exact." And to start, the restless energy of Scherzo capriccioso by Dvorák.

Recorded at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on 16th May.
Presented by Tom McKinney.

Dvorák: Scherzo capriccioso
Stephen Hough: Piano Concerto (The World of Yesterday) - Hallé Commission and European premiere
Butterworth: A Shropshire Lad - Rhapsody for Orchestra
Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme, ‘Enigma’

Sir Stephen Hough (piano)
The Hallé
Sir Mark Elder (conductor)

2 hours, 14 minutes

Last on

Wed 22 May 2024 19:30
Â鶹Éç Radio 3

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Recipes

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Music Played

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Scherzo capriccioso, Op 66

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.

  • Sir Stephen Hough

    Piano Concerto (The World of Yesterday)

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.

  • Sherman Brothers

    Feed the Birds

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Music Arranger: Sir Stephen Hough.

  • George Butterworth

    11 Folksongs from Sussex: Nos 1-4, 8 and 10

    Performer: Iain Burnside. Singer: Roderick Williams.
    • NAXOS.

  • Edward Elgar

    Salut d'amour Op.12

    Performer: James Ehnes. Performer: Eduard Laurel.
    • ONYX.

  • George Butterworth

    A Shropshire Lad - Rhapsody for Orchestra

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.

  • Edward Elgar

    Variations on an original theme ('Enigma'), Op 36

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Sonata In A Major Op.47 (Kreutzer), i. Adagio sostenuto - presto

    Performer: James Ehnes. Performer: Andrew Armstrong.
    • Onyx Classics : ONYX 4170.
    • Onyx Classics.
    • 1.

  • Béla Bartók

    Stick Dance (Romanian Folk Dances)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Music Arranger: Zoltán Székely.
    • CHANDOS CHAN.

Broadcast

  • Wed 22 May 2024 19:30
    Â鶹Éç Radio 3