Elgar: Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55 & Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47 Doric String Quartet, BBC Symphony Orchestra & Edward Gardner

• Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934): Introduction & Allegro, Op. 47:
• 1Introduction & Allegro, Op. 47: Introduction. Moderato - Allegretto - Moderato - Allegretto - Moderato - Tempo I03:52
• 2Introduction & Allegro, Op. 47: Allegro03:35
• 3Introduction & Allegro, Op. 47: Allegro (Tempo I) - Più animato - Come prima06:43
• Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55:
• 4Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55: I. Andante. Nobilmente e semplice - Allegro19:25
• 5Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55: II. Allegro molto07:16
• 6Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55: III. Adagio11:52
• 7Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55: IV. Lento - Allegro11:56
• Total Runtime01:04:39

Info for Elgar: Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55 & Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47

This new Elgar surround-sound recording brings together some of Chandos’ finest exclusive British artists for the first time.

The Doric String Quartet – highly praised for its series of Haydn and Schubert quartets – joins the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Edward Gardner in the Introduction and Allegro, one of Elgar’s masterpieces. Gardner here captures the subtle contrast between the solo quartet and the string ensemble, while also reconciling a wide variety of musical ideas and tempo fluctuations, not least the ever-popular ‘Welsh’ solo viola melody. The full Orchestra then appears in a passionate account of the majestic Symphony No. 1, a much-loved work ever since its premiere in 1906.

As well as highly praised Walton and Britten recordings, the enduring relationship between Edward Gardner and the BBC Symphony Orchestra has seen successful series of works by non-British composers such as Szymanowski and Lutosławski.

Edward Gardner is also involved in recording projects with many other orchestras, including the Bergen Philharmonic, the CBSO, and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, his latest new collaboration.

“... Edward Gardner leads a lyrical and bracing account [Introduction and Allegro], vying nostalgic reverie with intense drive, Is dotted and Ts crossed yet with plenty of bittersweet ardour and impulsive vitality. The First Symphony is just as impressive. Gardner directs a flowing if flexible account that is very listenable and is particularly revealing of detail, dynamics and sonority...” (Colin Anderson, ClassicalSource.com)

“... a finely nuanced recording of the Introduction and Allegro. In the symphony, Gardner’s feeling for pace and for colour really are top drawer, more measured than some performances but never losing sight of the overall shape of the work, never letting tension slip. Typically fine Chandos surround sound.” (Guy Weatherall, Classical Music)

Doric String Quartet
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor

The Doric String Quartet
has firmly established itself as the leading British string quartet of its generation, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics across the globe. Selected for representation by YCAT in 2006, the Quartet went on to win several prizes including 1st prize at the 2008 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in Japan, 2nd prize at the Premio Paolo Borciani International String Quartet Competition in Italy and the Ensemble Prize at the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany.

The Quartet performs in leading concert halls throughout Europe including Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Vienna Konzerthaus, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Hamburg Laeiszhalle and De Singel, Antwerp, and is a regular visitor to the Wigmore Hall. In 2010 the Quartet made its highly acclaimed American debut with recitals at the Frick Museum in New York and Library of Congress in Washington, and now returns for annual tours to North America. Alongside main season concerts the Quartet has a busy festival schedule and has performed at the Aldeburgh, Carinthischer Sommer, Delft, Edinbrugh, Grafenegg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Musica Viva Sydney, Risør, Schwetzinger and West Cork Festivals, collaborating with artists including Nicolas Altstaedt, Jonathan Biss, Ian Bostridge, Andreas Haefliger, Chen Halevi, Alina Ibragimova, Aleksandar Madžar, Alexander Melnikov, Daniel Müller-Schott, Mark Padmore, and Cédric Tiberghien.

Another recent highlight has seen the Quartet take on John Adams’ “Absolute Jest” for String Quartet and Orchestra. The Doric have now performed the piece with the Vienna Symphony at the Vienna Konzerthaus with John Adams conducting, with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic at the Concertgebouw and with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Markus Stenz.

Highlights of the 2015/16 season include five performances at the Wigmore Hall, as well as return appearances at the Berlin Konzerthaus and Amsterdam Concertgebouw. In April the Quartet returns to North America for its annual tour, this time including performances in Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, Boston and Vancouver. European recital engagements include appearances in Aalborg, Aarhus, Clermont-Ferrand, den Bosch, Ferrara,,Haarlem and Perugia. They will also tour with Elisabeth Leonskaja, including performances at the Musikverein in Vienna and at Wigmore Hall. Festival engagements take the quartet to the Cheltenham, Poznan, Risør and Storioni Chamber Music Festivals, as well as appearances at the Oxford Lieder, Two Moors and North Norfolk Music Festivals.

In 2009 the Doric String Quartet’s first CD was released to critical acclaim on the Wigmore Live label and was chosen as Editor’s Choice in Gramophone. Since 2010 the Quartet has recorded exclusively for Chandos Records. The first CD, the complete Korngold String Quartets, was featured as one of the 2010 Critic’s Choice discs in Gramophone and was followed by a CD of the Walton String Quartets which was nominated for a 2011 Gramophone Award. The Quartet’s release of the Schumann String Quartets was named CD of the Month in both Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine and was shortlisted for a 2012 Gramophone Award. Their most recent releases of Haydn’s Op 20 Quartets and Quartets by Janáček and Martinů have both gathered enthusiastic reviews across the board, with the Haydn disc being named Editor’s Choice by Gramophone and shortlisted for a 2015 Gramophone Award.

Booklet for Elgar: Symphony No. 1 in A-Flat Major, Op. 55 & Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47