Message #42553

[Albion]

Putting aside the quite splendid realisation of No.3 by Anthony Payne, which of the Elgar symphonies do you regard as his finest achievement in the genre? My vote is for No.1, simply because I think that the otherwise magical No.2 is frankly let down by its finale which seems to plod along and then simply fizzle out. Both scores are, of course, majestically orchestrated and in certain places out-do Richard Strauss in the doubling of lines which weave in and out of the texture, and both have so many memorable moments, but for me the thrilling conclusion of No.1 clinches it...

 8)