News

In this issue ... Page Page Address for communications 2 Elgar Medal for Sir Mark Elder 13 Style Guide 2 Elgar Works 14 Keep in touch 4 Elgar Birthplace – the future 17 Letter from the Chairman 4 Letters to the Editors 17 Editorial 8 Branch Reports 22 From the Vice–Chairman 9 Branch Events 33 From the Secretary 10 Dates for your Diary 37 Treasurer’s notes 10 Hallé Orchestra Elgar Festival 52 From the Membership Secretary 12 Delius Society 52 Welcome to new Members 12 Crossword 54

No. 60 – December 2016 Address for Communications

Contributions for the April 2017 issue of the Elgar Society News should be e–mailed to both the editors:

Richard Smith: [email protected] Peter James: [email protected]

Full contact details can be found on the back cover.

The latest date for submissions for the April 2017 issue is 25 February 2017.

Style Guide

Abbreviations & contractions Contractions & familiar abbreviations: no full stop (Mr, Dr, BBC, OUP, am, pm, ie, eg)

Abbreviations: add a full stop if needed for clarity or elegance (Op., No., J.S. Bach) Days: Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun Months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec

Capitals Chairman, Secretary and Branch of the Elgar Society in capitals, whether specific or general, and whether singular or plural.

Dates & times Use the form 2 June 1857. Decades: 1930s, no apostrophe. 4.30pm (12hr clock, full stop, not colon); 12pm (not noon).

E–mail Write as e–mail, not email.

Foreign words In roman if well established in English (sic, crescendo), otherwise in italics.

2 Elgar Society News Style Guide

Numbers Spell out up to and including twenty, then 21 etc in figures. No superscript for ordinal numbers (ie 1st, not 1st).

Plurals No apostrophe (CDs, not CD’s) unless needed for clarity (eg mind your p’s and q’s).

Possessives Apostrophe s after singular nouns ending in –s. With personal names that end in –s but are not naturally pronounced with an extra s: just add an apostrophe after the –s.

Prices £3 (not £3.00).

Quotations In single quotes; double quotes for quotes within quotes.

Telephone numbers 01243 774557 (not 01243–774557). Three–digit area codes followed by eight–digit numbers (eg London numbers) as 020 7777 7777, not 0207 777 7777.Mobile phone numbers in the form 07123 456789.

Titles Generic titles in roman (eg Violin Concerto); others in italics (eg Sea Pictures, the Musical Times); units within a longer work in single quotes (eg ‘Sanctus fortis’ from The Dream of Gerontius); nicknames in single quotes (eg ‘Moonlight’ Sonata, ‘Enigma’ Variations).

No. 60 – December 2016 3 Keep in Touch

Remember: you can keep up to date with the latest Elgarian news online at

Facebook: www.facebook.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com

London Branch Account: https://twitter.com/ElgarLondon

YouTube: www.youtube.com

or, search for ‘Elgar Society’ or ‘Elgar Birthplace’.

If you have details of a concert containing a work by Elgar, please notify us by e–mail at: [email protected] As we are less constrained by space on the Elgar website, wherever possible please remember to include :

– The starting time, full address of the venue and an enquiry telephone number; – Composers of other works in the concert; and – The full names of all performers.

Letter from the Chairman

Dear Friends

Since the AGM we have been busy on the Executive and Council. We have had two meetings of the Executive and they saw George Smart settle smoothly into his new role as the Society’s Honorary Secretary. He has had to fly from Glasgow to attend them in Nottingham so we are experimenting soon with a video–meeting of the five members the Executive, and that should prove interesting.

4 Elgar Society News Letter from the Chairman

The Castle Bridge, Downton. Watercolour by Thomas Hearne (1744–1817).

We have certainly been busy on the grants front. In 2016 we have re–adopted for a further five years Elgar’s Piano in the Cobbe Collection at £400pa. The Elgar in Performance Group, which comprises the Executive with Barry Collett and Martyn Marsh, considered about 35 applications in 2016 to support performances at home and abroad and granted 30 of them. The letters of appreciation we receive when the performances have taken place with our help are very gratifying. As I have noted before, the performances in Germany have been particularly noticeable over the last year or so and so we have been pushing the Elgar in Deutschland initiative particularly through the efforts of Geoff Scargill in collaboration with the Elgar Family Trust. Geoff and I met at the British Library to sort out some details about our biggest collaboration – the educational programme in Cologne culminating in a performance of The Kingdom in June 2017. Armed

No. 60 – December 2016 5 Letter from the Chairman

with support from the Executive, Geoff and I flew to Germany for a delightful and constructive meeting with the conductor, Thomas Neuhoff, and the Elgar animateur in Germany, Wolfgang–Armin Rittmeier. We sorted out arrangements for the Elgar Society to be present and, we hope, recruiting to the Society next June. After a very detailed and useful discussion, the Council endorsed the initiative at its meeting on 22 October and made the following decisions: • That the free membership in its present form be extended to members from abroad. • That Council changes the membership ‘offer’ for those living abroad to be electronic–only. • That the ES Abroad ‘offer’ comprises receipt of the Journal and the News, and free entry to the Birthplace. It further considered that strengthened ties with the Elgar Family Trust were desirable and welcomed proposals. The Council also noted the developing arrangements for Elgar Days in Worcester (organised by Worcester City Council) and approved moving the AGM to Sunday 4 June within the Cathedral precinct, discovered the Birthplace should be available and so anticipated the usual post–Evensong event should be held there. It was noted that West Midlands Branch would be arranging the other events during the weekend. It was on the recording front that we noted the greatest progress. At an Extraordinary Council Meeting in June, we decided to set aside a total of £20,000 for each of 2016 and 2017 to enable the following recordings to take place, which were on schedule. • John Knowles – a hitherto undiscovered recording of the Elegy (see last April’s News) with other rarities. • Three Recordings by Somm Records: Volume 1: Choral Items; Volume 2: Songs with Orchestra/Piano; Volume 3: Elgar and his Peers: Music for Military Band including the setting for choir and military band of With Proud Thanksgiving by Frank Winterbottom and Queen Alexandra’s Memorial Ode ‘So many true Princesses’. This was written by the Poet Laureate John Masefield and set to music for choir and orchestra by Elgar for the

6 Elgar Society News Letter from the Chairman

unveiling of Queen Alexandra’s Memorial outside Marlborough House, in June 1932. Because of a subsequent change of plan, the accompaniment was re–arranged for military band and Elgar conducted the chorister children of the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the band in a performance of the Ode. The band parts have since been lost, so Somm has commissioned conductor Tom Higgins to make his own arrangement for military band. • To round off our recording initiatives, Mike Dutton is mining one of the most recent Complete Edition volumes and we are supporting Volume 1 of the Short Orchestral Works, to contain a few première recordings. I am looking forward immensely to listening to the recordings as they come out. To another matter – it would be remiss of me not to highlight that the companion edition of the Journal is the last to be edited by Martin Bird, so may I pay tribute to his superb five years at the helm and to thank him for what he has done for Elgar scholarship. I thank him also for the helping hand he has extended towards his successor, Meinhard Saremba. Finally, what about the music itself amongst all this activity? I have not heard many live performances of Elgar recently, but I can leave you with one of my happiest, most recent Elgarian activities (and hence the picture above). In late September I was tangentially involved with the Arcadia festival of chamber music, co–directed by the composer Eleanor Alberga and the violinist Tom Bowes, and I attended the concerts in churches near Ludlow. Can you imagine anything more wonderful than listening to fantastic performances of Elgar’s String Quartet and Piano Quintet, amongst Haydn, Schoenberg, Walton, Barber, Grob and Alberga, and all in the idyllic, sun–dappled Shropshire countryside? Definitely Arcadian, and even Paradise Regained.

No. 60 – December 2016 7 Editorial

There’s a well–known poem by Wendy Cope, ‘Bloody men are like bloody buses’, in which she observes that you wait for a year for either and then three come at once. The same could be said about Falstaff, probably the most neglected of all Elgar’s orchestral masterpieces. Yet on 20 January 2017 it will be performed simultaneously in London, conducted by Oliver Knussen, and in Carlisle under Sir Andrew Davis. Davis goes on to play it again in Manchester the next day and in Liverpool in May. Hats off to him. Hats off too to Sir Mark Elder for consistently programming lesser–known Elgar; and, amongst others, to north London’s Southgate Symphony Orchestra for playing the Third Symphony in July (see the London Branch report) and both Wand of Youth suites in their concert next April. It’s encouraging to see The Apostles and The Kingdom being performed fairly regularly – but surely it’s time for Caractacus to be heard more often? It contains a lot of marvellous music, but is, I suppose, handicapped by its finale’s notorious libretto. But if we can tolerate Hans Sachs’s panegyric to ‘holy German art’ at the end of Die Meistersinger, we can tolerate H.A. Acworth’s excesses too.

There are, of course, many countries where any Elgar performance is a rarity, even of the ubiquitous ‘Enigma’ or Cello Concerto. If the News’s concert listings are anything to go by, Elgar seems to do well in Germany, Holland, Spain and the USA, is heard occasionally in Australasia, Japan and Canada, but hardly ever in (notably) France and Italy. Why? I did see an item about Elgar on France Musique’s website, which described him as ‘célèbre pour son Pump and circumstances’, so perhaps there is scope for improvement in that otherwise admirable country.

Look out for more Elgarian howlers in this issue’s Letters pages... Peter James

8 Elgar Society News From the Vice–Chairman

Visitors to the Branch pages of the Society’s website will have noticed a slight change in format. Until the recent changes, the Branch map and contact details were confined to the right–hand side of the page and the content appeared in a wider left–hand column. For reasons that remain a mystery, this layout caused great difficulty to page editors resulting in elements of the page becoming displaced and distorted. As a general rule, I was able to correct the problem when it arose, but felt that this was an unnecessary task when a small adjustment in the page formatting would alleviate the problem. Consequently, Branch pages now show the contact details and the map across the top of the page, with the content appearing below and spreading right across the screen.

Over the coming months George Smart, our new Secretary, will be publishing in these pages the arrangements for next year’s AGM weekend. These will be particularly troublesome due to the fact that the refurbishment of the Elgar Birthplace Museum, due to start at any time now, may make it difficult for us to follow our usual pattern of events. However, you can be sure that George, together with the West Midlands Branch, will put together a full weekend. Another change that will be of interest, and that will bear upon what is organised, is the emergence of the new Elgar Festival that is supported by Worcester City Council, under the leadership of Cllr Alan Feeney. This is due to be an annual event that will fall on and around the Birthday weekend and will allow the Society both to contribute to the celebrations and to benefit from other activities taking place. The Society is represented at local level by Richard Smith and John Harcup of WMB and by myself at a national level. The full programme of events is still under discussion, but I can assure members that some excellent events are planned which may encourage some to extend their stay in Worcester beyond the weekend itself. Stuart Freed

No. 60 – December 2016 9 From the Secretary

Nominations for Council Members There will be two vacancies on the Council as of 4 June 2017. Nominations for members of the Council to serve until the AGM in 2021 shall be made, in writing, signed by a proposer and seconder who must be members of the Society and by the candidate signifying willingness to stand and shall be received by the Honorary Secretary by 20 March 2017. Should the number of valid nominations for Council exceed the number of vacancies, a postal ballot of the members of the Society shall be held. Ballot papers shall be distributed to members with the April Journal. Elgar Society – Change of 2017 AGM Date and Venue The AGM on 11 June 2016 agreed a date for the AGM as Saturday 3 June 2017. The Executive then decided at their 23 September 2016 meeting to move the AGM to the Sunday afternoon of 4 June 2017 which will leave the Saturday free for members to attend the events being planned for that day. The AGM will be followed by Evensong and the usual laying of the chaplet at the Elgar window. Evensong is at 4pm on Sundays, and therefore provisional arrangements have been made to hold the AGM in the Cathedral Chapter House to facilitate members attending Evensong at the earlier time. Further details will be in the April News. George Smart Treasurer’s Notes

I am pleased to report that we have had another stable year and are on budget. At this time last year I was concerned about the amount of money languishing in current accounts and earning almost no interest. Since that time we have invested £50,000 in Investec and a further £50,000 in a fixed–term deposit which will mature next April. We also have another fixed–term deposit of £30,000 which I invested last year and which matures this December. Thus we have £130,000 returning interest rates well above the normal pitiful bank returns. All these investments are secured by the Government–backed Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

10 Elgar Society News Treasurer’s Notes

During the year we have also benefited from two generous legacies: £39,511 from the estate of the late Mr I.B. Browning, and a second of £17,567 from the estate of the late Mr I.I. Cane.

These legacies have already enabled us to increase the Elgar in Performance budget by £20,000 for three Somm recordings and a Dutton recording. This is in addition to the budget of £18,000 for the many concerts and other events we support throughout the year. Gift Aid I highlight Gift Aid because I note from our records that many of our members do not allow us to claim Gift Aid on their subscriptions. Gift Aid is important to us, bringing an added amount of £4,137 to our finances this year. I would urge any members who are tax payers but who are not registered for Gift Aid to consider steering some of their income tax towards the Elgar Society. If you have any questions on how to do this, please contact either myself, Helen (on 01508 494591), or David (on 01984 667735).

Branch Subventions Finally, because of the very gradual fall in subscriptions over the year, the Council has agreed that subventions to Branches will not increase next year. Where there are special events or other unexpected costs these will be considered on an individual basis. This gentle decline in subs raises the issue of what can be achieved by local fund–raising within the Branch. At the East Anglia Branch we have reduced our dependence on Society funds by over 50% mostly by a monthly raffle of Elgar–related items (books, new CDs, etc) and refreshments. The other way we can help is by enthusiastically persuading more meeting attendees to become members of the Elgar Society. Helen Whittaker

No. 60 – December 2016 11 From the Membership Secretary

As you will see from the flyer enclosed I am trying a new approach to the collection of subs! Of course I know that over 600 of you pay promptly by Standing Order or cheque, but, alas, a minority of members don’t seem to read my well–meant pleadings...! (One member actually told me he didn’t read the News!) So, my thanks to the vast majority who pay the right amount on time, and to the rest of you – please take note of the flyer which should have fallen out of your mailing pack. David R.Young

Welcome to New Members

Mrs Valerie Wilson Malvern Mr Colin Bailey Whitchurch, Northern Ireland Mr Ian & Mrs Kathleen Bond Barnsley Mr Robert Bywater Esher Mrs Irene & Mr Michael Carrier Eccles Mrs Shirley Cheevers Bristol Mr Tyrone & Mrs Lynn Conybear Trowbridge Mrs Janet & Miss Susan Daltrey Coventry Mrs Christine & Mr Graham Davis London N21 Mrs Nathalie de Montmollin Eisenbach, Germany Mr John Francis Groombridge, E. Sussex Mr Allan & Mrs Phyllis George Llangefni, Anglesey Mrs Caroline Gilderdale York Nessa Glen London E8 Miss Catriona Goh Hadleigh Mrs Elaine Goh Hadleigh Mrs Michelle Goodchild & Mrs M. Taylor Leicester Almut Henze–Kock Schwerin, Germany Mr Matthew Hood Bridgend Mr James Janossy (Jnr) Lincolnwood, Illinois, USA Mr Ian Jebbett Sleaford Mrs Melanie Jones Bromley Mr Christopher & Julia Kavanagh Cheltenham Mrs Patricia A. & Mr Peter Knight Broughton Astley, Leics. Mr Takeshi & Yukiko Kuse Tokyo Ms Melody Lin & Yameny Lao Lancaster

12 Elgar Society News Welcome to New Members

Professor Nicholas Mann Cheltenham Mr Eric McDougall St Andrews Mr Neil R. Merrick Stoke on Trent Mr John Rothery Bursledon Mr M.P.G. Southerton Stourport on Severn Mrs Linda Tolchard Hanley Castle, Worcs. Mrs Valerie & Mr Stanley Vicich Perth, Australia Mrs Tatiana Webster Tenterden Mr Ian Willett Epping

Elgar Medal for Sir Mark Elder

Joyce Kennedy, Patron of the North West Branch, presented Sir Mark Elder with the Elgar Medal on 7 April 2016 at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. This was very fitting as Sir Mark had presented his friend Michael Kennedy with the medal on that same platform in February 2011. It was altogether appropriate for Sir Mark to be appointed Chief Conductor of the Hallé in 1999, an orchestra which in the past had been conducted with great distinction by Elgar himself as well as by two great interpreters of Elgar, Hans Richter and Sir John Barbirolli. Among his outstanding concerts with the Hallé have been performances of Elgar in the Bridgewater Hall, most of which have been recorded and are available on CD. Of these, The Dream of Gerontius and the Violin Concerto both won Gramophone awards (in 2009 and 2010 respectively) and The Apostles was made Recording of the Year by BBC Music Magazine in 2013. The acclaimed television series Symphony which Sir Mark made with the BBC made clear that he regarded Elgar as one of the great symphonists. After being presented with the medal, Sir Mark conducted Elgar’s rarely heard Une Voix dans le Désert with the Hallé. This was followed by a dinner at which North West Branch Chairman Geoff Scargill paid tribute to Sir Mark. The photograph of the presentation ceremony (overleaf) is reproduced by courtesy of the Hallé.

No. 60 – December 2016 13 Elgar Medal for Sir Mark Elder

Above: Joyce Kennedy with Sir Mark [Photo: Courtesy Hallé]

Elgar Works

2016 always held the prospect of being a difficult year for Elgar Works, but none of us realised quite how difficult it would be. The complexity, size and consequential delays in the publication of the last two Complete Edition volumes were reported in the last issue of the News, as were the moves we had taken to strengthen the origination and proof–reading teams. But John Pickard’s constantly increasing university workload left him with insufficient time for the editorial demands of the Complete Edition; and while I was able to ease his burden to some extent by taking many of his General Editorial duties off him, this left me ill–placed to cope with the knock–on effects for Elgar Works of the National Trust take–over of the Birthplace.

14 Elgar Society News Elgar Works

Eventually John agreed to take on a second General Editor, with first refusal being offered to Iain Farrington, already well known to most Society members. Far from refusing, Iain took to the job with alacrity, demonstrating not only his prowess at spotting misplaced notes from fifty paces but also his empathy with the wider aims of the Edition. Not only were his views on editorial standards closely aligned with our own but his enthusiasm at last makes an electronic edition of future volumes a realistic prospect. So impressed was John with Iain’s interventions in the examination of the proofs of Donald Hunt’s Bavarian Highlands volume in early September that he has since decided he would be better handing over full editorial control to Iain, stepping down as General Editor while remaining available for consultation if necessary. Iain’s intervention enabled us to get Donald’s Bavarian Highlands volume off to the printers before the end of September, allowing me to focus at last on the multitude of issues arising from the National Trust’s assumption of responsibility for the Birthplace. We knew that we would need to find other ways of taking debit and credit card payments previously taken for us by Chris Bennett, and this we have now achieved through the setting up of a Paypal merchant account. The facility has been integrated into website pages and allows subscribers (including those without a sterling bank account) to set up standing orders to take payments monthly from their cards, and distributors to pay on–line for their bulk orders. We do not have to worry about security as payments are made directly to Paypal, so card details do not pass through our website, and subscribers and distributors do not have to send us their card details. Sadly, as foreshadowed in the last issue, the EU referendum result has led to a slide in the value of sterling, with a commensurate increase in our production costs for Complete Edition volumes. Coming after four bulky volumes, it was clear to the Board that a substantial increase in the price of volumes was unavoidable if we were to keep the Edition on a sound financial footing, and the Board therefore agreed to raise the price of volumes from £85 to £120. To the 80% of our customers outside the sterling zone this still represents only a modest increase in their own currency, but the Board realised that it would hit UK customers harder and therefore

No. 60 – December 2016 15 Elgar Works

agreed to defer the price increase until the end of the year. If you were considering purchasing a Complete Edition volume in the near future, you should consider doing so without delay by e–mailing your order to [email protected].

We also believe we have set up adequate arrangements for Complete Edition editors to continue to access the Birthplace archive while it remains at Broadheath; this has become necessary as it is now a closed archive pending the report of the independent working party set up to make recommendations on its future. But our negotiations with the National Trust to take over the Birthplace’s current role as the main sales outlet for Elgar Works volumes have as yet come to naught. We had hoped the National Trust would see the benefit of doing so, not only to retain the Elgar–centricity of the Birthplace but also in view of the high profit margins available to them on volumes we would continue to supply at little more than cost. The National Trust have rigid guidelines on the division between national and site–specific sales lines each shop must carry, however, and a minimum number of units each line must sell annually. We recognise that Collected Correspondence volumes are unlikely to sell in significant quantities to visitors whose main interest is in the tea room, but we do see a significant benefit to both parties in the NT building a subscription list for the Collected Correspondence from among their huge membership. Hopefully a more productive dialogue will develop once the immediate consequences of the take–over have been met. In the meantime, Society members who have previously purchased volumes in the Collected Correspondence series from the Birthplace can still do so directly from Elgar Works by e–mailing collected.correspondence@ elgar.org. Hopefully the worst is now behind us, and we can look back on the year with the realisation that, amidst the difficulties, we have managed to publish two further Complete Edition volumes and one in the Collected Correspondence series, with another of the latter well on the way. John Norris

16 Elgar Society News Elgar Birthplace – the Future

In the last few days, our West Midlands Branch Chairman Dr John Harcup and I had a meeting with Dr Jane Hubbard, the National Trust project manager who is overseeing the changes at the Elgar Birthplace. We had a long discussion with her about their plans. I can say with confidence that these are comprehensive and most exciting and will be to our mutual benefit. Although planning is quite far advanced we decided that full details would not be given in this issue of the News, but that several pages, including photographs, would be published in the April edition. So look out for that issue! Richard Smith Letters to the Editors

This might be an Enigma solved: ‘Elgar in Hungary?’ In the August News, Darren Niman posed a question about Elgar in Hungary and a chess set that he saw. Now, this may be pure coincidence, but shortly after communism fell Hungary was in a terrible state, with many orphaned children abandoned in appalling conditions and with no education. At a charity event that I attended there was a stand manned by volunteers who were asking for help with educational material for these children. At a Southern Branch committee meeting I raised this matter and it was decided to provide CDs, reading material and portable CD players (batteries included) which I was able to source at a very reasonable price. Some time later I was contacted by the organiser to say that the children were very pleased with our kind gift and were very much enjoying Elgar’s music. So, one might speculate that Elgar had such an impact on someone that he is now immortalised in Hungarian chess pieces. Martyn Marsh The Medici Quartet The death in July of Paul Robertson, leader of the Medici Quartet, at the early age of 63 brought back happy memories of the Quartet’s work for the music of Elgar over many of the last forty years.

No. 60 – December 2016 17 Letters to the Editors

Robertson was a largely unsung hero, but his proselytising of the chamber works was crucial at a time when they were largely ignored. It was Clifford Curzon who introduced Robertson to Elgar’s Quintet: although Curzon had plans to record the work, his death in 1982 curtailed this ambition. The Medicis, with John Bingham, released one of the earliest CD recordings of the Quartet and Quintet in 1985 on the old Meridian label. It was my privilege to have been involved in a preparatory concert when they performed both works for the Richmond Concert Society in March 1984 in The German School. This was one of the events that commemorated the 50th anniversary of Elgar’s death. During the Quartet’s farewell tour they performed in Harrogate in 2007 as part of Mark Grafton’s commemoration of his great–uncle’s life. There they performed Michael Kennedy’s Wood Magic with James Bolam and his wife, Susan Jameson. This had been recorded for CD in 1992 for Kingston University with the actors Barbara Leigh–Hunt and Richard Pasco. On a personal level, as well as getting to know Robertson and his colleagues in advance of the Richmond concert, I recall an amusing event before a concert during the Worcester Three Choirs Festival in 1978. The Medicis were performing in Pershore Abbey. As the foursome walked up the nave Robertson tripped on a flagstone. His spectacles flew off his nose and fell on the stones, breaking one of the lenses. Robertson was unable to read the music but a local optician saved the day. He slipped out, returning with a frame and a tray of lenses. Robertson, to the amusement of the audience, then performed the concert with this ungainly frame on his nose! Andrew Neill Elgar reaches Portugal! In July 2015, as a result of watching a recording of the Last Night of the Proms, a Portuguese university teacher of mechanical engineering, Manuel Eduardo, discovered that the composer of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ – a tune he had always loved – was Elgar. Although he knew nothing else about the great man, the name attracted him, and he promptly embarked on some in–depth research into Elgar’s life and music. His English is very good, and he read both Michael Kennedy’s Portrait of Elgar and my Life without Elgar. He e–mailed me, saying that he was keen to come to England for the Three Choirs Festival and would also like to meet me.

18 Elgar Society News Letters to the Editors

Shortly afterwards he arrived in England with his family and, after visiting me, he was intensely moved by the performance of The Kingdom in Gloucester. At the Birthplace his partner Carla, who was by now also falling in love with the music, saw a portrait of Elgar for the first time, and that increased her desire to follow Eduardo’s new interest. They then walked the Malvern Hills, which made them both feel extremely emotional.

David and I had the pleasure of meeting them all again before the Friday lecture (which Eduardo found fascinating), the Elgar Society lunch and ‘Enigma’ concert. At the lunch everyone to whom I had a chance to introduce Eduardo and Carla gave them a very warm welcome. This, I know, was greatly appreciated, and they have vowed to return for the Worcester Three Choirs Festival next year. In the meantime they have joined (or are about to join) the Society and are busy talking about Elgar and their week in England to all their Portuguese musical friends. As for David and me, we have already accepted an invitation to visit them next October! Ann Merivale

Portuguese Elgarians can look forward to a performance of Gerontius conducted by Paul McCreesh in Lisbon next May – see ‘Dates for your diary’ – Ed.

Gerontius at the Proms in 1966

I thought I might send you this link which may be of interest to your readers: I’ve recently uploaded a full recording of Gerontius from the 1966 Proms, featuring my grandfather Kenneth Bowen, Raimund Herincx and Marjorie Thomas under Malcolm Sargent. The full performance can be heard here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tslwHYBZYU0

There is some initial poor sound as the levels are being found, but otherwise it’s quite high quality for a digital transfer of a 50–year– old reel–to–reel tape recording of a radio broadcast! Gwilym Bowen

No. 60 – December 2016 19 Letters to the Editors

Land of Dope and Gory

Today I accessed iTunes but had inadvertently left the fourth CD of Lani Spahr’s new Somm set (reviewed by Martin Bird in the December 2016 Elgar Society Journal – Ed.) in the CD reader of my computer, and iTunes automatically read the contents of that CD. When I read over the resulting list, I first registered shock and surprise, and then doubled over with laughter. It’s clear to me that what were considered cultural norms to Elgar (and to old farts like us) are completely alien to today’s song–oriented youth. Nonetheless, it’s disturbing to think that spell–check has now become popular– culture–check, and is being employed when one wants merely to transfer data from one file system to another!

The following is the list of selections as iTunes thought it should be. A few items are error–free, but these were not!

Caractacus: Triumviral March (Elgar Conducts Himself) Caractacus: Woolworths Interlude Rosemary Brown Seven Suits: Tournament Torment The Wind of Youth Suit No. 1: Fairy Pipers Mincing The Wind of Youth Suit No. 1: Sundance Kid The Wind of Youth Suit No. 2: Little Balls It Came From The Musty Pages, From The Banner Of St György God Save The Klingon Aaron Snyder (and God save the Klingon!)

Seeking Charles Draper’s letters

Charles Draper was an eminent clarinet player during Elgar’s lifetime. Elgar thought highly of him and they exchanged a number of letters. Draper’s family would love to know what happened to these letters. Our correspondence expert Martin Bird has not come across any from Elgar to Draper, so can anyone help? If you have any information please contact Ruth Hellen at [email protected] or phone 01707 876807.

20 Elgar Society News Letters to the Editors

The Kindness of Strangers The Elgar Society is, as we all know, dedicated to furthering our knowledge of the life and times of a great English composer. To this end there are those within its ranks who assiduously research the archives and write learned treatises for the Society’s Journal, not to mention books. Yet the Society is more than that. It contains individuals who will readily do people a good turn without thought of reward or thanks, even if they don’t know that person very well, if at all, and even if it has nothing to do with Elgar. I recently (late August) experienced an example of this. Having been unable to have a holiday for several years because of my wife Margaret’s fragile health, I was determined that, for both our sakes, we should at least have a short break somewhere in this country (abroad is out of bounds) as soon as possible. I therefore contacted a Branch officer, someone who contributes erudite articles for the Journal and writes books, whom I know only through e–mail correspondence and, at most, a few telephone calls, to ask if he could recommend a B and B in his area, which happens to be a part of the country of which we are very fond. I had no right to do this. After all, his remit does not extend to tourism or accommodation advice, but I felt sure that the humanity of this person would not allow my request to go unheeded. Within a few hours he had contacted a member of his Branch committee, a person unknown to me, who told me of two addresses that he could personally recommend. I rang one of these, which fortunately had vacancies for the dates I needed, and we had four wonderful days (three nights) of relaxation and change from routine. Accordingly, I thank these (almost) strangers wholeheartedly for helping us out at quite a difficult time. It is good to know that a Society that exists primarily to meet the intellectual needs of its members is not lacking in humanitarian instincts. Readers will note that I have not identified the individuals concerned lest they be inundated with similar requests from other deserving sources! Howard Newton

No. 60 – December 2016 21 Branch Reports

EAST ANGLIAN: Just two talks to report back on for this edition. In our last meeting before the summer break we welcomed Prof Jeremy Dibble who gave us a talk on Sir Hubert Parry. This was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon exploring the life and times of Parry interspersed with examples of his music and learning of his links with Elgar, who regarded him as a friend.

During the summer break several members journeyed down to the Three Choirs in Gloucester which made the first talk of the autumn series very apt. Stephen Williams and friends gave a talk entitled ‘A three–fold cord’. This enlightening talk led us through the history of the Three Choirs, from its origin up until 1920 when Elgar was encouraging his friend Ivor Atkins to resume the concerts after the First World War. Using visual aids and the voices of Roger Thorn and Katherine O’Carroll to give the quotes and extracts more emphasis, Stephen Williams guided us expertly through over 300 years of choral singing, explaining as he did that no–one can give absolute proof as to when the festivals actually began. The afternoon concluded with Philip Vaughan leaving his laptop to play on keyboard the hymn tune White Ladies Aston written by Ivor Atkins, and the meeting made a good attempt at singing the one– verse hymn in the presence of Atkins’s grand–daughter Katherine. Bev Simpson

EAST MIDLANDS: The Leicester International Music Festival, held this year from 15 to 17 September, featured a number of Elgar’s chamber works. Accordingly, the Branch mounted a significant presence to publicise our activities. Branch Secretary Ken Smith liaised with the Festival Committee regarding the loan of a portable exhibition held by the Elgar Birthplace and this duly arrived (courtesy of Keith Stubbs) at the Festival venue, the Leicester Museum and Art Gallery. Additional supplies of Society and Branch publicity material were obtained and intensive leafleting of seats was carried out during this period. A desk was set up, manned by committee members, to handle enquiries and a number of people left their contact details.

The rapidly burgeoning reputation of the Festival ensured a big turnout for each concert. The exhibition was removed after

22 Elgar Society News Branch Reports the Festival and Dr Michael Toseland (Branch Venue Coordinator) and Ken Smith jointly arranged for it to go to the De Montfort Hall for the Bardi Symphony Orchestra’s production of The Dream of Gerontius on 16 October.

Sandwiched between October’s well–attended and innovative talk by Stuart Freed on the Introduction and Allegro, featuring audience participation, and December’s by Paul Harper–Scott on In the South (Alassio), we were delighted to feature live music on 12 November when Iain Farrington played his piano transcription of Falstaff in the Chapel at 45 East Bond Street, Leicester.

Our 2017 programme will begin with Daniel Grimley’s talk on Beatrice Harrison, Delius and Elgar on 11 February, followed by Em Marshall–Luck and ‘The English Music Festival’, with live music, on 11 March, and a welcome return by Dr John Harcup on 8 April for ‘Edward Elgar’s Edwardian Experience’. Everyone welcome, light refreshments available. As usual, our venue is the Leicester address mentioned above, at 2pm. Howard Newton

LONDON: On 3 July 2016 the church of St Mary Magdalen in Enfield was packed with people waiting to hear the Southgate Symphony Orchestra conducted by Adrian Brown. The concert began with Butterworth’s Rhapsody A Shropshire Lad, preceded by a reading of Housman’s poem ‘Is my team ploughing?’ The Cello Concerto by Delius was played by Daniel Benn, an excellent young cellist who was sensitively accompanied by the orchestra. The main event, however, was Anthony Payne’s elaboration of Elgar’s Third Symphony. Adrian had persuaded Anthony to attend and take part in a short question and answer session about the Symphony before it was played; there were presumably many people in the audience who had not heard either the story behind the Symphony or the music itself, so this was an ideal introduction. This was an ambitious choice for an amateur orchestra, and of course you wouldn’t expect absolute perfection, but the players really entered into the spirit of the music and produced a very good performance. One of the members told me that this was the most exciting piece she’d ever played with the orchestra. In my view this must have been due

No. 60 – December 2016 23 Branch Reports

partly to the inspiring preparation and direction of Adrian Brown, who has conducted the piece several times and knows it so well. The concert was sponsored by the Society’s Elgar in Performance scheme, and showed what an impact this scheme can have on the wider appreciation of Elgar’s music. In helping the performance to go ahead, EiP allowed many people, orchestra and audience alike, to experience the thrill which so many of us felt on hearing this music for the first time. A bold choice of programme which made for a memorable evening.

Our own programme started with news of a memorable victory for the Branch. In September, a team of members took part in the first inter–music society quiz organised by the Gustav Mahler Society. This was a very enjoyable evening: at half–time we were lagging behind a joint team of the Sibelius Society and Birkbeck College, but we leapt into the lead during the second half and won by one point. The fact that there were only four teams did not spoil the joy of winning, and we hope for greater participation by other societies in future events.

The new season officially began in October with a timely reminder of the circumstances surrounding the composition of The Spirit of England. Adrian Brown, who knows this piece extremely well, spoke of the work and the process of composition, analysing key points in the music. He believes that this is a masterpiece which marks a turning point in Elgar’s style, and those present were surely encouraged to listen to the music again with fresh ears. Ruth Hellen

NORTH WEST: During our summer break, we had our usual informal gathering, one Wednesday evening in August, at the Ship Inn in Styal, Cheshire. This has now become an annual event for the benefit of those of our members who have unbearable withdrawal symptoms during the summer months without Branch meetings. The convivial conversation was interesting and wide–ranging and the drinks went down quite well too! It was very well attended and this was probably a record for this event.

24 Elgar Society News Branch Reports

Then, our new season began in October and there was another excellent turnout with some 50 members and visitors in attendance to hear Eleanor Roberts (the Hallé Concerts Society’s archivist) give a fascinating talk about ‘Elgar, Richter, and the Building of a Hallé Tradition’. Eleanor’s talk gave us a fascinating insight into the professional relationship, respect and friendship which rapidly developed between Elgar and Hans Richter (the Hallé’s Principal Conductor at the time) and she also quoted from some fascinating personal letters sent by both Edward and Alice to Hans Richter on various occasions. We also heard a number of excerpts from Elgar works which had been recorded by the Hallé Orchestra between 1928 and 2008 (conducted by Harty, Barbirolli and Elder) and, after the talk, we were also given an opportunity to view some fascinating original items relating to Elgar and performances of several of his major works – which Eleanor had kindly brought from the Hallé archives.

At the time of writing, the following meeting, on 29 October, is planned to be a special tribute to Pat Hurst in which Roger Hurst will talk about Pat and her wide–ranging musical interests. In November, Diana McVeagh will be talking to us about her ‘Reminiscences’, and then, in December, two Hallé soloists – Harvey Davies (piano) and Sarah Ewins (violin) – will be coming to talk to us about ‘Violin and Piano Sonatas in Elgar’s Time’ and we shall also have a live performance of Elgar’s Violin Sonata, Op.82. David L. Jones

SCOTTISH: August brought the opportunity for Scottish and international Elgarians to enjoy a rare but exceptionally fine performance of The Apostles as one of the highlight concerts at the Edinburgh International Festival. Scottish choruses – including a semi–chorus of Apostles (‘young men just like you…’) sang it as if they had known and loved the work all their lives. There was a fine sextet of up–and–coming soloists and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in fine form. Gardner commanded the visceral, intimate, prayerful and exultant passages of the complex orchestral score with great eloquence and clarity. The hall was not quite full. But the concert proved that Elgar’s lesser–known works can succeed in Edinburgh with both audiences and critics when they are performed so well.

No. 60 – December 2016 25 Branch Reports

At the September Branch meeting, Adrian Brown gave a lively account of ‘Sir Adrian Boult – the ideal Elgar Conductor’ with many fascinating insights into Boult’s musical philosophy, technique and working relationships. Having studied with Boult, Adrian Brown was well acquainted with the man and his work and illustrated Boult’s accuracy and skill in delivering Elgar’s scores – showing how he beat complex passages and illustrating, from film, Boult conducting part of the Introduction and Allegro. John Bryden introduced and played piano versions of some of the ‘Enigma’ Variations, Dream Children and Beau Brummell, illuminating Elgar’s skill and creativity in crafting smaller pieces. The centrepiece of the October branch meeting was Dr John Harcup’s thoughtful and engrossing presentation on ‘Elgar’s Edwardian era’. This featured illustrations from the lesser–known songs and of the use Elgar made of the snippet themes ‘the moods of Dan’ – the famous dog of his friend George Sinclair. The talk was enlivened by readings from Elgar’s contemporaries and his own recollections. Neil and Gillian Mantle gave a recital of music for horn and piano by contemporaries of Elgar, and – a world premiere this – their own ‘disarrangement’ of Elgar’s Chanson de Nuit for horn and piano duo. How is that for filling a gap in Elgar’s output? There was also a short piano recital by the young and very talented Emily Ruuskanen including a delightful performance of In Smyrna proving just how atmospherically Elgar could compose for piano.

Looking ahead to early 2017, Glasgow will get the pleasure of a complete cycle of all three of Elgar’s symphonies performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and their new principal conductor, Thomas Dausgaard.

BBC SSO Play Elgar Symphonies 2017

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra will perform all three Elgar Symphonies at City Halls, Glasgow in 2017 under their Chief Conductor Thomas Dausgaard. The Elgar symphonies will be performed at the regular Thursday night concerts starting at 7:30 pm: and will all be broadcast on BBC Radio Three at some point in 2017.

26 Elgar Society News Branch Reports

Thurs 26 Jan 2017, 6.45pm Symphony 1 (plus Dvoák Cello Concerto and a pre–concert talk on the Elgar symphonies by John Pickard at 6:45pm)

Thurs 9 Mar 2017, 7.30pm Symphony 2 (plus James MacMillan’s new Viola Concerto and works by Butterworth) Thurs 27 Apr 2017, 7.30pm Elgar–Payne Symphony 3 (plus Britten’s Serenade for tenor, horn and strings) Tom Kelly SOUTHERN: The Branch is continuing its policy of holding meetings in two venues, both of which are attracting sizeable audiences, as shown by attendances at our two autumn talks. The first of these, given by Dr John Harcup, was held at our Winchester venue in September. His subject, ‘Elgar’s Jokes and Japes’, provided us with a very entertaining afternoon with much laughter; we learnt that Elgar was far from being the stern–looking man in his photographs. For our October meeting we returned to our venue in Havant where Duncan Eves, a member of the Southern Branch committee, gave us a very well researched and insightful talk on Elgar’s Second Symphony and its connections with Lady Alice Stuart–Wortley. Although his talk was longer than usual, everyone remained, completely enthralled, to the end. Afterwards a new member remarked that if all the talks were this good he would definitely return! For November’s talk the Branch will return to Winchester to hear Michael Butterfield’s examination of Elgar’s relationship with August Jaeger, ‘Nimrod’, and will consider the influence that he had on a number of Elgar’s major works. In January 2017 our first talk in the New Year will be in Havant when Martin Passande will reveal ‘Elgar’s Hobbies’. We return to Winchester in February for a talk by Christopher Seaman on Sir Adrian Boult and remain there in March to hear Geoff Hodgkins talk on The Apostles. Wendy Wiseman

No. 60 – December 2016 27 Branch Reports

SOUTH WESTERN: In June our Secretary, Michael Butterfield, gave a PowerPoint presentation with many musical illustrations on Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf, drawing particular attention to the many Wagnerian leitmotifs. It is a pity that this magnificent work receives so few public performances for it was the most performed of all Elgar’s choral works in the early 20th century. The only part which is regularly performed today is ‘As torrents in summer’ which forms part of the glorious closing section in which the chorus and all the soloists join together in a sumptuous hymn of praise. The work has dramatic solo parts and a lot of work for the chorus including a number of ballads. Every third year, when the Three Choirs Festival is held at Gloucester, it falls to the South Western Branch to arrange a talk and host the lunch that follows. This time we were proud to introduce our own member, Dr Martin Firth, to talk about Elgar’s Organ Sonata. Martin feels strongly that this early work was in fact the sketch for an orchestral symphony and for that reason it has been dubbed ‘Symphony No.0’. He gave a splendid presentation with PowerPoint illustrations and excerpts from Dr Gordon Jacob’s orchestration of the work. His talk was roundly applauded.

Martin Firth talking on Elgar’s Organ Sonata [Photo: Joan Roche]

28 Elgar Society News Branch Reports

Our next meeting was in September when Geoff Scargill, Chairman of the North West Branch, spoke about Elgar in Germany. Starting with the numerous German musicians living in Britain who were of help to Elgar in his early years, he then dealt with the first satisfactory performance of Gerontius, which took place in Germany and was heard with approval by Richard Strauss. Most important, however, is the invaluable work that Geoff has done to establish a branch of the Elgar Society in the fatherland, leading to performances of the music. For this he deserves the greatest commendation and encouragement. Christopher Redwood

WEST MIDLANDS: We in the West Midlands are fortunate in that we are occasionally able to hold a meeting at Elgar’s home at Plâs Gwyn in Hereford which he occupied between 1904 and 1911. For this we are grateful to Timothy Day, one of the house’s current occupants. We were therefore incensed that some months ago the plaque commemorating Elgar’s residence there was stolen by vandals. However, Hereford City Council, in a most magnanimous gesture, offered to replace the plaque without cost to the Society. Consequently, on 6 September some twenty members gathered to unveil the new plaque with the ceremony conducted by Timothy Day. Our second event, on 17 September, also involved a plaque, this time provided by the Branch. Between 1887 and 1895 Elgar was employed by the Worcester High School for Girls, established by Alice Ottley, and a predecessor of Worcester Royal Grammar School. One of our committee members, a former pupil at RGS, suggested that a plaque be provided there. This idea was enthusiastically welcomed by both the Branch and the school. Therefore, it was decided to combine its unveiling with a previously planned lecture by one of the best known and respected Elgar biographers, Diana McVeagh.

No. 60 – December 2016 29 Branch Reports

The plaque in place at the entrance to Worcester Royal Grammar School. To the right is David Hughes, its designer, with David Packman, who suggested the idea. [Photo: Richard Smith] After the actual unveiling, conducted by Dr Peter Nardone, Organist and Music Director at Worcester Cathedral, we were treated to a short recital by three RGS pupils. Following this delightful interlude, we all assembled at the gates of the school where the plaque had been installed. An excellent buffet was then provided by the school, and we reassembled to hear Diana McVeagh give a most interesting illustrated lecture on Elgar’s biographers and how she became involved in writing one of the first post–war biographies of the composer. This was interspersed with many anecdotes of her meetings with relations and friends of Elgar during her research that resulted in two highly regarded books on him. On 8 October we were again at Plâs Gwyn for a tribute by the previous Chairman of the Elgar Society, Andrew Neill, about his recently deceased friend, the well–known author, journalist and music critic Michael Kennedy. Kennedy’s personality, his diligence, his enormous appetite for work, and the gracious way he conducted himself throughout his career were all effectively illustrated by the

30 Elgar Society News Branch Reports erudite, enthusiastic and accomplished speaker. He read excerpts from Kennedy’s Portrait of Elgar, published originally in 1968. We heard Michael’s voice in recordings of broadcasts and listened to excerpts from some of the music of which he was especially fond. Andrew described Michael Kennedy as a kind and gentle man and, like many a musical person, an enthusiastic follower of cricket, just like that other famous Mancunian music critic, Neville Cardus, with whom he was friendly. Two events are planned for November: a joint meeting with the Worcester Recorded Music Society on the 5th and an Elgar Day in Worcester on the 12th at which two well–known Elgarians, Donald Hunt and John Norris, will talk on Elgar’s part–songs in the afternoon, followed in the evening by a performance of many of them. These events will be described in the April issue of the News. Richard Smith YORKSHIRE and NORTH EAST: We have a very good venue in the Bar Convent, Blossom Street, York, but it has had a few problems in the past year. Vandals have stolen lead from the roof on more than one occasion, leading to the need for extra security provisions; decoratively the building has been refurbished, and in that process much of the audio equipment has been removed from our meeting room but still not replaced. We have therefore had to make do and mend with assorted music players provided by the local manager or our members. Consequent on the equipment problems our planned quiz to follow our Branch AGM in January, ‘Elgar: Questions and Answers’, had to be changed to a selection of favourite Elgar pieces chosen by committee member Richard Surrey. In March, Prof Rachel Cowgill from Huddersfield University explored The Spirit of England, Elgar’s setting of part of Laurence Binyon’s anthology The Winnowing Fan, and gave much new meaning to the background of Elgar’s ‘War Requiem’. Our usual live music programme in April was again supplied by Josephine Peach, piano, and Amanda Crawley, soprano, who selected works written by Elgar and his friends and contemporaries, including Ireland, Vaughan Williams, Bantock and Delius. This programme is available to other Branches and includes Sea Pictures.

No. 60 – December 2016 31 Branch Reports

In May, Peter Godden, organist and retired minister, wondered why the connection between Elgar and his chosen instrument is so often overlooked, and in June Martin and Jane Bird provided a fascinating look at some of Elgar’s correspondence and his diaries. For our September meeting, Julian Rushton, Emeritus Professor of Music at Leeds University, examined the making of Caractacus in much detail and we realised just how this early Elgar work has been neglected.

We still have goodies to look forward to in the rest of this year, with Donald Hunt talking about the importance of Elgar in his career and Andrew Neill looking at the impact of World War I on Elgar and his contemporaries in artistic and literary circles.

In June we made our second Branch visit to the Worcester area and, although the turnout was disappointing (only thirteen from a potential 95) it was a successful trip. We stayed in the Holiday Inn, Bromsgrove, attended the Elgar Society AGM and Malvern Festival Chorus’s concert in Great Malvern Priory on Saturday 11 June (Music for Shakespeare); on Sunday morning we went to the talk on Donald Fraser’s orchestration of Elgar’s Piano Quintet, attended Evensong in the Cathedral and gathered in the Birthplace Museum for presentations to Ernie Kay and Martin Bird and the final bun– fight before returning home. Tony Pook

NORTH AMERICAN: Recent activity centred on spreading the word about the Elgar Remastered CDs, the project conceived and carried out by North American members. The Branch saw to it that reviewers and thought leaders received copies of the discs, and that copies were made available for purchase by Elgar aficionados residing in North America.

In addition the Branch management commenced preparations for our 2017 conference to take place in Toronto on Thursday–Sunday April 27–30. The main event will be a performance of The Apostles conducted by NAB member Stephanie Martin on the Saturday night. A full list of events will appear in the next issue. All Society members are welcome to join us. Arthur Reynolds

32 Elgar Society News Branch Events

For further information, please contact the relevant Secretary (see back cover)

EAST ANGLIAN

Sat 4 Feb 2017, 2.30pm Branch AGM & Lecture Room, Edward Elgar from more of us who knew him St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Christopher Wiltshire Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LS

Sat 4 Mar 2017, 2.30pm Elgar and Germany Lecture Room, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Geoffrey Scargill Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LS

Sat 8 Apr 2017, 2.30pm Elgar Violin Sonata in E minor Lecture Room, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Christopher Moore Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LS

(Following this, Rachel Sokolowski (violin) and Christopher Moore (piano) will give a complete performance of the work in St Edmundsbury Cathedral.)

EAST MIDLANDS

Sat 10 Dec 2016, 2pm History, form and meaning in The Garden Room, Unitarian Chapel, In the South (Alassio) East Bond Street, Leicester LE1 4SX Prof Paul Harper–Scott

Sat 11 Feb 2017, 2pm Delius, Elgar and Beatrice Harrison The Garden Room, Unitarian Chapel, Prof Daniel Grimley East Bond Street, Leicester LE1 4SX

Sat 11 Mar 2017, 2pm The English Music Festival The Garden Room, Unitarian Chapel, Em Marshall–Luck East Bond Street, Leicester LE1 4SX

Sat 8 Apr 2017, 2pm Edward Elgar’s Edwardian experience The Garden Room, Unitarian Chapel, Dr John Harcup East Bond Street, Leicester LE1 4SX

No. 60 – December 2016 33 Branch Events

LONDON Tues 6 Dec 2016, 7.30pm Elgar’s orchestral music Queen’s College, in the United States 43 Harley Street, W1G 8BT Robert Matthew–Walker

Tues 7 Feb 2017, 7.30pm Elgar and Walton Queen’s College, 43 Harley Street, W1G 8BT Relf Clark

Tues 6 Mar 2017, 7.30pm A golden age of recording Queen’s College, 43 Harley Street, W1G 8BT Christopher Bishop

Tues 3 Apr 2017, 7.30pm Sir Malcolm Sargent: Queen’s College, social elitist and musical democrat 43 Harley Street, W1G 8BT Andrew Keener

NORTH WEST Sat 10 Dec 2016, 2.30pm Violin and piano sonatas Royal Northern College of Music, in Elgar’s day Manchester M13 9RD Harvey Davies and Sarah Ewins (Hallé soloists)

Sat 14 Jan 2017, 2pm Branch AGM & music from members Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester M13 9RD

Sat 12 Feb 2017, 12.30pm for 1pm Branch lunch Alma Lodge Hotel, Stockport

Sat 18 Mar 2017, 2pm Defusing the red light The Quaker Meeting House, Liverpool Andrew Keener

Sat 22 Apr 2017, 2.30pm Memories for pleasure Royal Northern College of Music, Joyce Kennedy Manchester M13 9RD SCOTTISH

See Branch report on Pages 26 and 27.

SOUTHERN Sat 21 Jan 2017, 2pm Elgar’s hobbies The Spring, East Street, Havant Martin Passande

34 Elgar Society News Branch Events

Sat 11 Feb 2017, 2pm Adrian Boult St Lawrence Parish Rooms, Christopher Seaman Colebrook Street, Winchester

Sat 18 Mar 2017, 2pm The Apostles St Lawrence Parish Rooms, Geoff Hodgkins Colebrook Street, Winchester

Sat 22 Apr 2017, 2pm Rosa Newmarch The Spring, East Street, Havant Peter Avis

SOUTH WESTERN

Sat 17 Dec 2016, 12.30pm Christmas lunch Details of this lunch in Bristol, usually followed by a short but entertaining quiz, will be available nearer the time.

Sat 28 Jan 2017, 2.15pm Branch AGM followed by The Bristol Music Club, party with mulled wine 76 St Paul’s Road, Clifton, Bristol. BS8 1LP and fruit cake

WEST MIDLANDS

Please note that due to the temporary closure of the Elgar Birthplace Museum, our winter and spring 2017 events will be held at the venues indicated below.

Sat 3 Dec 2016, 2.30pm Elgar and the St Leonard’s Church of the Powick Lunatic Asylum Beauchamp Community, Dr Frank Crompton Newland, Malvern, WR13 5AX

Sat 21 Jan 2017, 2.30pm Future Plans for the Birthplace Elgar Birthplace, Crown East Lane, Lower Broadheath, Worcester WR2 6RH This meeting will be in two parts. In the first the National Trust will give a presentation and answer questions from members concerning their plans for the Elgar Birthplace. This exciting event will be followed by a showing of Elgar’s Enigma, a film from New Zealand telling the story of Elgar and his first love, Helen Weaver.

No. 60 – December 2016 35 Branch Events

Sat 11 Feb 2017, 1pm for 1.30pm Annual Branch lunch Christchurch Hall, Guests: Teresa Cahill Avenue Road, Malvern, WR14 3AY and Robert Saxton

Sat 11 Mar 2017, 2.30pm Branch AGM followed by St Leonard’s Church of the Linda Tolchard on ‘Singing Elgar’ Beauchamp Community, Newland, Malvern, WR13 5AX

Tues 14 Mar 2017, 7.30pm The ‘Enigma’ Variations – Symphony Hall, Birmingham beyond the score Sir Mark Elder & Gerard McBurney

(Coach trip to hear a dramatic presentation of the ‘Enigma’ Variations followed by a performance with Sir Mark Elder conducting the Hallé Orchestra. Details in the winter 2016/2017 WM Branch Newsletter.)

Sat 1 Apr 2017, 2.30pm Elgar in America St Leonard’s Church of the Joan and Richard Smith Beauchamp Community, Newland, Malvern, WR13 5AX

YORKSHIRE and NORTH EAST

Sat 21 Jan 2017, 2pm AGM & Elgar’s declining years? Bedingfield Room, Bar Convent, Philip Scowcroft 17–19 Blossom Street, York

Sat 18 Mar 2017, 2pm Nightingale or grumpy old man? Bedingfield Room, Bar Convent, George Kennaway 17–19 Blossom Street, York

Sat 22 Apr 2017, 2pm Live Music with Bedingfield Room, Bar Convent, Josephine Peach (piano) 17–19 Blossom Street, York & Amanda Crawley (soprano)

36 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary

This section is only as comprehensive as the data we are aware of. If you know of an event including a MAJOR Elgar work please send information to [email protected]. The period to be covered is from the 1st of the month of publication – August, December and April – to approximately 5 months ahead. We’d rather hear about an event twice than not at all! The Editors

Weds 30 November 2016, 7.30 pm Lighthouse Centre for the Arts, Kingland Road, Poole Thurs 1 December 2016, 7.30pm University Great Hall, Exeter In the South / Mendelssohn / Strauss Knauer / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Shelley

Thurs 1 December 2016, 7.30pm St David’s Hall, Cardiff In the South / Delius / Walton Little / BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Brabbins

Thurs 1 December 2016, 7.30 pm Benaroya Hall, Sat 3 December 2016, 8.00 pm University St, Seattle WA (USA) The Dream of Gerontius Cooke / Murray / Soar / Seattle Symphony Chorale / Seattle Symphony / Gardner

Sat 3 December 2016, 2 pm & 8 pm Green Music Center, Sun 4 December 2016, 3 pm Rohnert Park CA (USA) Mon 5 December 2016, 8 pm Enigma Variations / Thomas / Rachmaninoff Samuelson / Bengochea / Skinner / Santa Rosa Symphony / Ferrandis

Sat 3 December 2016, 7.30pm Trinity Church, Harrow Cockaigne / Brahms / Rachmaninov Ullman / Trinity Orchestra Harrow / Andrews

Sun 4 December 2016 Oakham School Chapel, Rutland From the Bavarian Highlands (with orchestra) / Bruch / Mendelssohn Oakham Choral Society & Orchestra / Davis

No. 60 – December 2016 37 Dates for your Diary

Mon 5 December 2016, 7.30pm Konzerthaus, Vienna Tues 20 December 2016, 8.00pm Philharmonie, Essen Introduction and Allegro / Beethoven / Schreker / Eisler / Vaughan Williams / Bridge / Foster / Moore Hampson / Amsterdam Sinfonietta / Thompson

Fri 9 and Sun 11 December 2016 Orchestra Hall, Detroit Symphony no. 1 / Beethoven Ax / Detroit Symphony Orchestra / Slatkin

Fri 9 December 2016, 7.45pm Stadthalle, Göttingen Enigma Variations / Walton / Schubert Power / Göttingen SO / Mueller

Sat 10 December 2016, 7.30 pm St James’s Church, Cockaigne / Messiaen / Sussex Gardens, London Turner / Bax / Shostakovich Griffiths / Bloomsbury Chamber Orchestra / Turner

Sun 11 December 2016, 3.00pm Royal Festival Hall, London The Snow (plus traditional Christmas favourites) Tynan / The Bach Choir / Philharmonia Orchestra / Hill

Sun 11 December 2016, 4.00pm Philharmonie, Berlin Cello Concerto / Vaughan Williams Brantelid / Steffens / Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

Tues 13 December 2016, 2.15pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham Enigma Variations / Tchaikovsky / Saint–Saëns Abduraimov / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sinaisky

Thurs 15 December 2016, 8.00pm Konzerthaus, Berlin Englische Kathedralmusik zu Weihnachten by Elgar / Tallis / Byrd / Vaughan Williams Stephan / Berliner Singakademie / Zimmermann

Mon 19 December 2016, 8.00pm Liederhalle, Stuttgart Enigma Variations / Adams / Bruch Baeva / Stuttgart Phil / Milton

38 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary

Thurs 12 and Fri 13 January 2017, 8.00pm Auditorio, Valladolid In the South / Aragón / Mozart / Respighi Say / Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León / Iorio

Thurs 12 and Fri 13 January 2017 Victoria Hall, Geneva Enigma Variations / Brahms / Rachmaninov Trpceski / Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Petrenko Thurs 12, Fri 13 and Sat 14 January 2017 Symphony Hall, Enigma Variations / Barber / Riley Boston Carpenter / Boston Symphony Orchestra / Tovey

Fri 13 January 2017, 8.00pm Philharmonie, Berlin Violin Concerto / Grime / Schumann Capuçon / Deutsches SO Berlin / Ticciati

Sat 14 January 2017, 8.00pm Elbphilaharmonie, Hamburg In the South / Hindemith / Mussorgsky Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Muti

Sun 14 January 2017, 7.30 pm Marina Theatre, Lowestoft Enigma Variations / Dvoák Benn / Waveney Sinfonia / Brown

Sun 15 January 2017, 3.00pm Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden Cello Concerto / Grieg / Bartók Elschenbroich / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Gardner

Tues 17 January 2017, 7.30pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham Thurs 19 January 2017, 7.00pm City Hall, Sheffield Cello Concerto / Grieg / Walton Mørk / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Gardner

Weds 18 January 2017, 7.30 pm Lighthouse Centre, Poole Thurs 19 January 2017, 7.30pm University Great Hall, Exeter Violin Concerto / Rachmaninov Braunstein / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Karabits

Fri 20 January 2017, 7.30pm Barbican, London Falstaff / R Strauss / Cashian BBC SO / Knussen

No. 60 – December 2016 39 Dates for your Diary

Fri 20 January 2017, 7.30 pm Cadogan Hall, Cello Concerto / Grieg / Bartók Sloane Terrace, London Mørk / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Gardner

Sat 20 January 2017, 7.30pm Sands Centre, Carlisle Falstaff / Wagner / Dvoák Elschenbroich / BBC Philharmonic / Davis

Sun 21 January 2017, 7.30pm Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Falstaff / Wagner / Grieg Perianes / BBC Philharmonic / Davis

Sun 21 January 2017, 2.00pm Minato Mirai Hall, Yokohama Fantasia and Fugue / Khachaturian / Rachmaninov Ueno / Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra / Kawase

Sun 21 January 2017, 2.00pm Metropolitan Theatre, Tokyo In the South / Symphony no. 1 / Paganini Krilov / Tokyo New City Orchestra / Marcianò

Sun 22 January 2017, 11.00am Concertgebouw, Amsterdam Cello Concerto / Grieg Mørk / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Gardner

Weds 25 January 2017, 8.00pm Philharmonie, Cologne Cello Concerto / Beethoven Vogler / Staatskapelle Halle / Caballé–Domenech

Thurs 26 January 2017, 7.30pm Glasgow City Halls Symphony No. 1 / Dvoák BBC SSO / Dausgaard

Fri 27 January 2017, 7.30pm Regal Theatre, Minehead Introduction and Allegro / Mozart / Vaughan Williams / Barber / Dvoák Merchant / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

40 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary

Fri 27 January 2017, 7.00 pm Valley Presbyterian Church, South Camino del Sol, Green Valley AZ (USA) Sat 28 January 2017, 7.30 pm Performing Arts Center, South Clubhouse Drive, SaddleBrooke AZ (USA) Sun 29 January 2017, 3.00 pm St Andrew Presbyterian Church, North Paseo del Norte, Tucson AZ (USA) Violin Concerto / Pomp and Circumstance March No 4 / Rachmaninov Kim / Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra / Lerner

Sat 28 January 2017, 7.30 pm St John’s Smith Square, Give unto the Lord / Great is the Lord / London Bruckner / Weir /Bernstein / Vaughan Williams / Holst / Stravinsky The Elysian Singers of London / Elysian Festival Orchestra / Laughton

Sat 28 January 2017, 7.30pm Domäne Blumenrod, Limburg, Germany Sun 29 January 2017, 5.00pm Erwin-Piscator-Haus, Marburg, Germany The Black Knight / Strauss / Brahms / Schönberg Universitätschor Marburg / Junge Marburger Philharmonie / Kuppe

Sun 29 January 2016, 7.00pm Laeiszhalle, Hamburg Sea Pictures / Lambert / Vaughan Williams Johnston / Hamburg Sym / Tate

Sun 29 and Tues 31 January 2017 Musikverein, Vienna Mon 30 January 2017, 7.30pm Festspielhaus, St Pölten The Dream of Gerontius Connolly / Davis / Rose / Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien / Tonkuenstler Orchestra of Lower Austria / Schønwandt

Mon 30 January 2016, 8.00pm Elbphiharmonie, Hamburg Violin Sonata / Debussy / Prokofiev Waley–Cohen / Watkins

Tues 31 January 2017, 7.30pm G Live, Guildford Serenade for Strings / Mozart / Grieg Donohoe / European Union Chamber Orchestra / Hofmann

No. 60 – December 2016 41 Dates for your Diary

Thurs 2 February 2017, 7.30pm Cadogan Hall, London Sospiri / Britten / Copland / Brahms / Bartók / Lutoslawski Fröst / Keller / Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Fri 3 February 2017, 7.45pm Ulster Hall, Belfast In the South / Ravel / Franck Ulster Orchestra / Tortelier

Sat 4 February 2017, 7.00pm Pavilion, Bournemouth Dream Children / Enigma Variations / Vaughan Williams / Britten Bell / Merchant / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Sat 4 February 2017, 7.30pm Town Hall, Leeds Serenade for Strings / Mozart / Grieg / Haydn Pike / European Union Chamber Orchestra / Hofmann

Sat 4 February 2017, 7.30pm Cathedral, St Albans The Kingdom Dennis / Moore / Johnson / Platt / Hertfordshire Chorus / London Orchestra da Camera / Temple

Sun 5 February 2017, 7.30 pm The Hexagon, Reading, Berks Enigma Variations / Beethoven Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Zukerman

Thurs 9 February 2017, 7.30pm Kings Place, London Piano Quintet / Dohnányi Schubert Ensemble

Fri 10 February 2017 Filarmonica Moldova, Iasi, Romania Symphony no. 1 Moldovan Philharmonic / Walker

Sat 11 February 2017, 7.30pm York Barbican, York Cockaigne / Sibelius / Rachmaninov Donohoe / York Guildhall Orchestra / Wright

Sat 11 February 2017, 7.45pm Anvil, Basingstoke Serenade for Strings / Mendelssohn / Mozart / Beethoven Cartledge / Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra / Scotchmer

Sat 11 February 2017, 8.00pm Ryerson United Church, From the Bavarian Highlands (excerpts) / Vancouver Palestrina / Byrd / de Lassus / des Prez / Rossini / Copland Vancouver Chamber Choir / Washburn

42 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary

Sun 12 February 2017, 3.00pm Royal Festival Hall, London Cockaigne / Walton / Vaughan Williams Power / Philharmonia Orchestra / Wilson

Mon 13 February 2017, 7.30pm Barbican Hall, London In the South / Canto Populare / Korngold / R Strauss Kaufmann / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Rieder

Sunday 19 February 2017, 3.00 pm Littleton High School Sea Pictures / Performing Arts Center, Littleton MA (USA) Frazelle / Holst / Stravinsky Marvosh / Orchestra of Indian Hill / Hangen

Thurs 23 and Fri 24 February 2017 Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool Violin Concerto / Stravinsky Feng / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Prieto

Weds 1 March 2017, 2.15pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham In the South / Walton / Wood / Farnon / Coates Williams / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Wilson

Weds 1 March 2017, 7.30pm Sage, Gateshead Introduction and Allegro / Finzi / Vaughan Williams / Tippett Orpen / Royal Northern Sinfonia / Creswick

Thurs 2 March 2017, 8.00pm Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg Symphony No. 2 / Korngold Suwanai / Hamburg SO / Tate

Thurs 2, Fri 3 and Sat 5 March 2017 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam Cockaigne / Symphony no. 2 / Mahler Hallenberg / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Gardiner

Thurs 2, Fri 3 and Sat 4 March 2017 Semperoper, Dresden In the South / Britten / Gubaidulina / Vaughan Williams Draugsvoll / Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Runnicles

Fri 3 March 2017, 7.30pm Victoria Hall, Hanley Cello Concerto / Berlioz / Mussorgsky BBC Philharmonic / Matheuz

No. 60 – December 2016 43 Dates for your Diary

Fri 3 March 2017, 7.45pm Ulster Hall, Belfast Enigma Variations / Walton / Holst / Vaughan Williams Quero / Ulster Orchestra / van Steen

Sat 4 March, 2017 Philharmonic Hall, Moscow Introduction and Allegro Musica Viva, Walker

Weds 8 March 2017, 7.30pm St George’s Hall, Liverpool Piano Quintet / Bach / Beethoven Brodsky Quartet / Roscoe

Thurs 9 March 2017, 7.30pm Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Symphony no. 1 / Froissart / Grania and Diarmid / Pomp and Circumstance March no. 3 Shaw / Hallé Orchestra / Elder

Thurs 9 Mar 2017, 7.30pm Glasgow City Halls Fri 10 March 2017, 7.30pm Concert Hall, Perth Sun 12 Mar 2017, 3.00pm His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen Symphony No. 2 / Butterworth / MacMillan BBC SSO / Farnes

Thurs 9 March 2017, 8.00pm Philharmonie, Berlin Fri 10 March 2017, 8.00pm Sat 11 March 2017, 7.00pm Violin Concerto / Tchaikovsky Zukerman / Berliner Philharmoniker / Mehta

Thurs 9 March 2017, 8.00pm NDR Grosser Sendesaal, Hannover Enigma Variations / Broström / Brahms Weithaas / Hornung / NDR Radiophilharmonie / Manze

Sat 11 March 2017, 7.30pm Baptist Church, Emsworth Introduction and Allegro / Sibelius / Warlock / Puccini / Tchaikovsky Havant Chamber Orchestra / Browning

Sat 11 March 2017, 7.00pm Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Tues 14 March 2017, 7.30pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham Enigma Variations : ‘Beyond the Score’ McBurney (Presenter) / Hallé Orchestra / Elder

44 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary

Sat 11 Mar 2017, 7.30pm School Chapel, Oakham, Rutland Sursum Corda / Air de Ballet (first performance since 1882) / Cockaigne / Weber / Brahms / Holst Vassallo / Vassallo / Davis / Rutland Sinfonia / Hilliam / Collett

Sun 12, Mon 13 and Tues 14 March 2017 Philharmonie, Symphony no. 1 / Brahms Cologne Dego / Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne / Norrington

Sun 12 March 2017, 8.00pm Philharmonie, Berlin Violin Concerto / Tchaikovsky Zukerman / Berliner Philharmoniker / Mehta

Sun 12 March 2017, 6.30pm Bridgewater Hall, Manchester The Dream of Gerontius Cooke / Philip / Paterson / Hallé Choir / Hallé Youth Choir / Hallé Orchestra / Elder

Mon 13 March 2017, 7.00pm House of Arts, Miskolc Cello Concerto / Bruckner Várdai / Miskolc Symphony Orchestra / Balderi

Tues 14 March 2017, 7.30 pm Cadogan Hall, Cello Concerto / Wagner / Beethoven Sloane Terrace, London Wallfisch / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / van Steen

Weds 15 March 2017, 8.00pm Cultural Centre, Hong Kong Cello Concerto / Tveitt / Sibelius Mørk / Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Petrenko

Weds 15 and Thurs 16 March 2017 BASF–Feierabendhaus, Enigma Variations / Britten / Ravel Ludwigshafen Chamayou / Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland–Pfalz / Sung

Fri 16 March 2017, 7.30pm Royal Festival Hall, London Weds 15 Mar 2017, 7.30pm Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury Symphony no. 1 / Schubert / Mozart Eberle / Tamestit / Philharmonia Orchestra / Ashkenazy

No. 60 – December 2016 45 Dates for your Diary

Sat 18 March 2017, 7.30 pm Albert Hall, Nottingham Sea Pictures / Vaughan Williams Fredrick / Wyn–Rogers / Farnsworth / Nottingham Harmonic Choir / Orchestra da Camera / Laing

Sun 19 March 2017, 7.30 pm Killian Hall, Piano Quintet / Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA (USA) Bach / Berio Harbison / Keyes / Kim / Murrath / Rosen / Chuang Suggested Donation: $25 ($10 students)

Weds 22 March 2017, 8.00pm Philharmonie, Cologne Symphony No. 2 / Weber / Britten Fischer / BBC Phil / Mena

Thurs 23 & Fri 24 March 2017, 8.00pm Philharmonie, Essen Enigma Variations / Britten / Mendelssohn Essen Philharmonic / MacDonald

Thurs 23, Fri 24 and Sat 25 March 2017 Enigma Variations / Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa Huang / Beethoven Zuo / Pacific Symphony Orchestra / Ang

Fri 24 March 2017, 7.30 pm The Hexagon, Reading, Berkshire Fri 31 March 2017, 7.30pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham Chanson de Matin / Delius / Vivaldi / Coates / Grainger / Vaughan Williams / Strauss Minhall (Presenter) / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Wilkins

Fri 24 March 2017, 7.30pm Community Arts Centre, Pershore Serenade for Strings / Holst / Purcell / Walton / Britten / Tippett Orchestra of the Swan / Curtis

Sat 25 March 2017, 7.30 pm St Michael and All Angels Church, Introduction and Allegro / Cello Concerto / Bramhall Brahms Turner / Cheshire Sinfonia / Stallworthy

Sat 25 March 2017, 7.30pm Sage, Gateshead Symphony no. 1 / Wagner / R Strauss Wall / Royal Northern Sinfonia / Dausgaard

46 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary

Sat 25 March 2017, 7.30pm Town Hall, Leeds The Music Makers / Cello Concerto / Stanford Hugh / Johnston / Leeds Philharmonic Chorus / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Hill

Sun 26 March 2017, 2.30pm Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Cello Concerto / Beethoven / Stravinsky Aasgaard / Liverpool Phil Youth Orch / Emery

Thurs 30 March 2017, 7.30pm Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavik Enigma Variations / Fauré / Barber Ehnes / Iceland Symphony Orchestra / Tortelier

Thurs 30 March and Mon 3 April 2017 Kursaal Auditorium, San Sebastián Tues 4 April 2017, 8.00pm Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao Violin Concerto / Tchaikovsky Zukerman / Forsyth / Euskadiko Orkestra Sinfonikoa / König

Fri 31 March 2017, 7.30pm Hall for Cornwall, Truro Cello Concerto / Beethoven / Sibelius Johnston / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Seal

Sat 1 April 2017, 2.00 pm Benaroya Hall, Enigma Variations / University Street, Seattle WA (USA) Barraine / Korngold / Holst / Delius Hove / Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra / Stern

Sat 1 April, 2017, 7.30 pm The Bourne, Southgate N14 ‘Concert for Youngsters and Oldsters’ Wand of Youth (complete) / Coates / Kleinsinger Southgate Symphony Orchestra / Brown

Mon 3 & Tues 4 April 2017, 8.00pm Die Glocke, Bremen Enigma Variations / Tippett / Walton Mönkemeyer / Bremen Philharmonic Orchestra

Fri 7 April 2017, 7.30 pm King George’s Hall, Blackburn Serenade for Strings / Finzi / Vaughan Williams / Britten Creswick / Orpen / Royal Northern Sinfonia / Creswick

No. 60 – December 2016 47 Dates for your Diary

Fri 7 and Sat 8 April 2017 Palacio de Congresos Introduction and Allegro / y Auditorio de Navarra, Pamplona Arnold / Vaughan Williams Ogden / Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra / Gamba

Fri 7 and Sat 8 April 2017, 7.30pm Konzerthalle, Bamberg The Dream of Gerontius Coote / Appelby / Bamberg Symphony Orchestra / Zinman

Sun 9 April 2017, 2.00pm Musical Instrument Museum, Piano Quintet / Franck East Mayo Blvd, Phoenix AZ (USA) Moeckel / Hunsinger/ Goldstein

Weds 12, Thurs 13 and Fri 14 April 2017 Dvoák Hall, Prague Cello Concerto / Barber / Mendelssohn Gabetta / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Zinman

Thurs 20 April 2017, 7.30pm Grieghallen, Bergen Symphony No. 1 / Grieg / Bartók Bavouzet / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Gardner

Thurs 20 April 2017, 7.30pm City Hall, Hull In the South / Walton / Bizet / Debussy Little / BBC Philharmonic / van Steen

Thurs 20 April 2017 Lincoln Center, New York City Fri 21 April 2017 Sat 22 April 2017 Thurs 25 April 2017 In the South / Berlioz / Andres / Beethoven Members of the New York Philharmonic

Fri 21 April 2017, 7.30pm Corn Exchange, Bedford Cello Concerto / Smetana / Dvoák Gerhardt / Philharmonia Orchestra / Rouvali

Fri 21 April 2017, 7.00 pm City Hall, Barker’s Pool, Sheffield Symphony No 1 / Watkins / Britten Hallé Orchestra / Elder

48 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary

Sat 22 April 2017, 7.00pm L’Auditori: Sala Pau Casals, Barcelona Cello Concerto / Mendelssohn / Beethoven Young Soloists of Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya / Foster

Sat 22 April 2017, 7.30pm De Montfort Hall, Leicester Sun 23 April 2017, 3.00pm Royal Festival Hall, London Cello Concerto / Holst Gerhardt / Philharmonia Orchestra / Rouvali

Sat 22 April 2017, 8.00pm Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver Serenade for Strings / Introduction and Allegro / Britten / Vaughan Williams Vancouver Symphony Orchestra / Ehnes

Sun 23 April 2017, 3.00pm St John’s Smith Square, London Serenade for Strings / Byrd / Bryars / Carpenter / Nyman / Gregory Ferio Saxophone Quartet (Wiggin / McMurray / Banuls / Beere)

Weds 26 April 2017, 2.15pm Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Thurs 27 April 2017, 7.30pm Fri 30 April 2017, 7.30pm Sat 29 April 2017, 7.30pm Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham Introduction and Allegro / Weber / Tchaikovsky Bliss / Hallé Orchestra / Elder

Thurs 27 April 2017, 7.30pm City Halls, Glasgow Symphony no. 3 (elaborated by A Payne) / Britten Bostridge / Parkes / BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra / Wilson

Sat 29 April 2017, 7.30pm Grace Church on the Hill, Sun 30 April 2017, 3.00pm Lonsdale Road, Toronto ON (Canada) The Apostles Hall / Szabo / Polegato / Wiliford / Mazerolle / Tomkins / Pax Christi Chorale and Orchestra / Martin

Fri 28 April 2017, 8.00pm Liederhalle, Stuttgart Cello Concerto / Mozart / Beethoven / R Strauss Brantelid / SWR SO / Pérez

No. 60 – December 2016 49 Dates for your Diary

Sat 29 April 2017, 7.30 pm River Run Centre, Woolwich Street, Enigma Variations / Estacio Guelph ON, Canada Solomon / Guelph Youth Symphony Orchestra / Guelph Symphony Orchestra / Yan

Sat 29 April 2017, 7.30pm Leisure Centre, Kendal Violin Concerto / Brahms Little / BBC Philharmonic / Seal

Sun 30 April 2017, 8.00pm Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver Piano Quintet / Enigma Variations Vancouver Symphony Orchestra / Tovey

Sun 30 April 2017, 7.00pm Liederhalle, Stuttgart Symphony No. 2 / Tchaikovsky Baranov / Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra / Gamzou

Weds 3 and Thurs 4 May 2017 BASF–Feierabendhaus, Cello Concerto / Bruckner Ludwigshafen Krijgh / Bruckner Orchester Linz / Davies

Thurs 4 May 2017, 7.30pm Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool Falstaff / Nicolai / Brahms Ohlsson / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Davis

Thurs 4 & Sat 6 May 2017, 8.00pm Dana Auditorium, Cello Concerto / Wagner / Dvoák Greensboro, NC (USA) Bailey / Greensboro SO / Sitkovetsky

Weds 10 May 2017, 7.30pm Lighthouse Centre, Poole Thurs 11 May 2017, 7.30pm Colston Hall, Bristol Fri 12 May 2017, 7.30pm G Live, Guildford Symphony No 1 / Wagner / Schumann Avdeeva / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Steffens

Weds 10, Thurs 11 and Besední dum, Brno Fri 12 May 2017, 7.30pm Cello Concerto / Pärt / Beethoven Barley / Brno Philharmonic / Joel

50 Elgar Society News Dates for your Diary

Weds 10 May 2017, 7.30pm Sage, Gateshead Sea Pictures / Wagner / R Strauss / Dvoák Huckle / Hallé Orchestra / Elder

Thurs 11 May 2017, 9.15pm Concertgebouw, Amsterdam Fri 12 May 2017, 8.15pm Enigma Variations / Britten / Wigglesworth / Knussen Dervaux / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Wigglesworth

Fri 12 May 2017, 8.00 pm Carnegie Hall, New York NY, USA The Apostles McNamara / Bard Festival Chorale / American Symphony Orchestra / Botstein

Fri 12 May 2017, 7.30pm Barbican Hall, London Enigma Variations / Bliss Birsan / Johnson / BBC Symphony Chorus BBC Symphony Orchestra / Davis

Sat 13 May 2017, 7.30pm Trinity Church, Harrow Sea Pictures / Sibelius / Elgar / Tchaikovsky Simmonds / Trinity Orchestra Harrow / Mathieson

Mon 15 May 2017, 7.30pm Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury Symphony no. 1 / Schubert / Mozart Eberle / Philharmonia Orchestra / Ashkenazy

Mon 15 May 2017, 8.00pm Philharmonie, Berlin Enigma Variations / Fauré / Chopin Tsujii / Deutsches Symphonie–Orchester Berlin / Ashkenazy

Fri 19 May 2017, 8.00pm National Concert Hall, Dublin The Dream of Gerontius Stéphany / Le Brocq / Davies / RTÉ Philharmonic Choir / RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra / Markson

No. 60 – December 2016 51 Dates for your Diary

Hallé Orchestra and Sir Mark Elder Elgar Festival 9–14 March 2017

Thurs 9 March 2017, 7.30pm: Elgar Symphony No.1; Overture Froissart; Grania and Diarmid: Incidental Music (Funeral March and ‘There are Seven’); Pomp and Circumstance March No.3. Hallé Orchestra conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Sat 11 March 2017, 7.00pm: Beyond the Score: Elgar’s Enigma Variations. ‘Beyond the Score’ is an accessible and entertaining way of learning more about Elgar’s masterpiece. Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé will be on stage throughout providing musical examples, complemented by actors playing Elgar’s friends and loved ones and film on the Hallé big screen. After the interval, Sir Mark and the orchestra give a complete performance of the work. Sun 12 March 2017, 6.30pm: Elgar The Dream of Gerontius (there will be no interval) David Butt Philip (tenor), Sasha Cooke (mezzo– soprano), Iain Paterson (bass–baritone), Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir, Hallé Orchestra conducted by Sir Mark Elder. All the above at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. Tickets from the Hallé box office on 0161 907 9000. Tues 14 March 2017, 7.30 pm: A repeat of Beyond the Score (as above) at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. Tickets from Symphony Hall box office on 0121 780 3333. (The WM Branch of the Elgar Society is hoping to arrange a coach and block booking from the Worcester/ Malvern area. Please contact the Secretary, Richard Smith on 01684 438358 or e–mail: [email protected] for details). Delius Society

The Elgar Society has a reciprocal agreement with the Delius Society, whereby we offer each other’s members a reduced subscription of 50% for the first year of membership. Contact Membership Secretary Paul Chennell: [email protected] Details of events can be found on the Delius Society website: www.delius.org.uk

52 Elgar Society News Elgar Society News

From the collection of Arthur Reynolds

No. 60 – December 2016 53 An Elgarian Crossword

No 23, set by PIETRO

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9

10

11 12

13 14 15

16

17 18 19

20 21 22

23

24 25 26

27 28

Most unfortunately, the crossword in the August News was printed with the wrong grid. So, with apologies from the editors, we are reprinting it with the correct grid.

Across 8 Refusal twice rejected – finally The Snow performed solo. (2,4,3) 9 1 endless psalm setting. (4) 11 Inverted tonic journalist spotted. (7) 12 Hear how the bicycling cockney arrived – the beast! (3,4) 13 Danes moved 1. (5) 14 I’d returned sign kept by Alice. (7) 17 Ernest gains direction as a journalist. (7) 19 See 3.

54 Elgar Society News An Elgarian Crossword

20 Convertible piano lid. (4,3) 22 Part of retrograde canon or a ballet title. (5) 24 Nothing sour if made angry in Alassio. (7) 26 Greeting with sad alleluiah when EU is rejected. (3,4) 27 See 25. 28 Sets (...) and Diarmid incompetently, missing damn’d awful old statesman. (9)

Down 1 See 3. 2 Shot to pieces with dreadful wounds and found near Brinkwells. (5,5) 3,19,23,and 1 Translation of a scene from Goethe’s Faust may not hit him as a song title. (3,4,2,4,7,2,3,9) 4 Pet name played back in high definition, like a 20. (6) 5 Clumsy lad avoiding elaborate choral dance may step on someone’s toes. (8) 6 Stick action starts off glorious LSO under Elgar. (4) 7 We’re Russian VIPs – count us out of Strauss waltzes. (5) 10 Left out, I vilify Alberti? – it’s a mistake – it can be checked. (13) 15 Schiff half cut and zero movement – it’s like a joke. (10) 16 Some soprani sing Lassus – it’s gelatinous stuff. (9) 18 State in atonal fashion. (8) 21 Composed and played back some rhapsodical pieces. (6) 23 See 3. 25,27 Easily win Elgar’s honour (with bar) in capital. (4,4)

(The solution to Crossword No 22 was printed in the August 2016 Edition of the News.)

No. 60 – December 2016 55 FOUNDED 1951 Registered as a Charity No 298062

President : Julian Lloyd Webber F.R.C.M. Chairman : Steven Halls

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION : Single membership: UK and Europe: £35.00; outside Europe : £36.00; Joint membership: UK and Europe: £40.00; outside Europe : £41.00; Student membership: UK and Europe: £16.00; outside Europe : £17.00. Renewable on 1 January each year. Joint membership is available for two persons residing at the same address and sharing a single copy of the Journal and News. Renewals, and applications for membership should be sent to the Hon.Membership Secretary at the address below. A surcharge of £4.00 is applied to payments not remitted in sterling, to cover exchange commission and conversion loss. Payments may be made by Visa, Maestro or Mastercard, quoting the type of card, its number, three–digit card security number and expiry date, the amount to be paid and the name on the card if different from the member’s name. Those paying by credit card may do so by telephone, or by e–mail using the on–line membership application, renewal, Gift Aid and Standing Order forms which can be found on the Society website at http://elgar.org/elgarsoc/membership. They are also available from the Hon. Membership Secretary. CHAIRMAN : Steven Halls, 28 Nottingham Road, Bingham, Notts NG13 8AT Tel: 07900 162170; e–mail: [email protected] VICE–CHAIRMAN : Stuart Freed, 6 Carriage Close, St John's, Worcester WR2 6AE Tel: 01905 339371; e–mail: [email protected] HON. SECRETARY : George Smart, 10 Cullin Park Grove, Strathaven, South Lanarkshire ML10 6EN Tel: 01357 520314; e–mail: [email protected] HON. TREASURER : Helen Whittaker, Long Lea, 9 Green Fall, Poringland, Norwich, NR14 7SP Tel: 01508 494591; e–mail: [email protected] HON. MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY : David Young, The Rectory, Lydeard St Lawrence, Taunton TA4 3SF Tel: 01984 667735; e–mail: [email protected] BRANCHES AND BRANCH SECRETARIES

EAST ANGLIAN (Bury St Edmunds) Robin Self, ‘Sospiri’, 27 Coucy Close, Framlingham, Suffolk IP13 9AX Tel: 01728 621 577; e–mail: [email protected] EAST MIDLANDS (Leicester) Ken Smith, 34, Chaucer Street, Narborough, Leicester, LE19 3EH Tel: 0116 286 5300; e–mail: [email protected] LONDON (Marylebone) Ruth Hellen, 30 King James Avenue, Cuffley, Herts EN6 4LR Tel: 01707 876079; e–mail: [email protected] NORTH AMERICAN Lee Kaufman, 8921 Moydalgan Rd., St. Louis, MO 63124 Tel: 314–991–4816; e–mail: [email protected] NORTH–WEST (Manchester) David L Jones, Willowbrook House, Spath Lane East, Cheadle Hume, Cheshire SK8 7NL Tel: 0161 439 7176; e–mail: [email protected] SCOTTISH (Edinburgh) James Carter, Apartment No. 5, Stewart House, The Maltings, 161 Slateford Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1PB Tel: 0131 443 9201, e–mail: [email protected] SOUTHERN (Southampton / Portsmouth) Wendy Wiseman, 3, Broomhill Cottages, East End, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 5SX Tel: 01590 626516; e–mail: [email protected] SOUTH WESTERN (Bristol / Cardiff / Exeter) Michael Butterfield, 14 Southdown Road, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3NL Tel: 0117 909 2503; e–mail: [email protected] WEST MIDLANDS (Worcester) Richard Smith, 24 Crown Lea Avenue, Malvern, Worcs, WR14 2DP Tel: 01684 438358; e–mail: [email protected] YORKSHIRE & NORTH EAST (York) Paul Grafton, Fair Winds, Parsons Green, Wetherby, Yorkshire, LS22 2RQ Tel: 01937 583723; e–mail: yorkshire–[email protected] EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL : Meinhard Saremba, Uhlandstrasse 31, Mannheim, Baden–Württemberg D–68167, Germany e–mail: [email protected] EDITORS OF THE NEWS : Richard Smith, 24 Crown Lea Avenue, Malvern, Worcs, WR14 2DP Tel: 01684 438358; e–mail: [email protected] Peter James, Orchard Cottage, The Street, Walberton,W. Sussex, BN18 0PQ Tel: 07817 654807; e–mail: [email protected] SOCIETY WEBSITE : http://www.elgar.org SOCIETY E–MAIL ADDRESS : [email protected]