Elgar became England’s leading composer almost overnight following the premiere of his Enigma Variations with its portraits of his friends. But what of the so-called Enigma and its “dark saying”, which Elgar referred to but would not explain? Was he having us on? Clive Paget talks with conductors Sir Andrew Davis and Jaime Martín about the composer’s musical picture gallery.
“One’s own friends are the people to be most in dread of,” wrote Edward Elgar in 1890, a few months ahead of the premiere of Froissart, his first major orchestral work. It’s an odd statement for the man who would later celebrate friendship in the 14 portraits that make up his Enigma Variations. But then...
Comments
Log in to join the conversation.