Elgar: Symphony No. 2/ In the South Orchestral & Concertos Chandos

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There’s no shortage of first-rate recordings of the majestic Second, but few have been as beautifully burnished as Richard Hickox’s account, captured with customary brilliance on this SACD

The Independent

From the irresistible sweep and splendour of In the South – Elgar’s exuberant tribute to Richard Strauss – to the wonderfully satisfying account of the Second Symphony’s finale, this disc has given me such pleasure that I am loath to find any fault with it. But the pacing of the Symphony’s famous opening seems to me simply too rushed – quicker than Elgar’s precise markings – for the densely intricate textures to register. The rest is a delight. Under Hickox’s direction, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales respond to the music with a freshness, panache, expressiveness and ‘joie de vivre’ that are captivating.

The Sunday Times

Even on conventional CD playback this is an unusually transparent recording, and the SACD layer further lightens and clarifies Elgar’s textures, a welcome bonus in this often heavily scored symphony. The performance itself is consistently impressive. At its heart is a grave, sensitive account of the slow movement, expertly charted by Richard Hickox from its mournful, trudging origins in the underbelly of the orchestra to the pained searingly nostalgic final climax.

BBC Music Magazine

Elgar’s Second Symphony blossoms in the hands of Richard Hickox and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Classic FM Magazine ‘Disc of the Month’

Richard Hickox’s studio recording certainly deserves a place in that select band. The Chandos sound is glorious and the orchestral playing first rate – on form the BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a match for any of the corporation’s other orchestras around the country – and Hickox’s performance has the sense of carefully moulded ebb and flow that the Second Symphony requires.

The Guardian

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