Edward Elgar - From the Archives, Vol. 3 (Adrian Boult)

Information

Composer: Edward Elgar

• The Kingdom, Op. 51
• Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 “Enigma”

Heather Harper; Helen Watts

William Herbert; Gordon Clinton

Croydon Philharmonic Society

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Concertgebouw Orchestra

Adrian Boult, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: 1957; 1940 / 2026

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The third volume of SOMM Recordings’ Elgar from the Archives series features two premiere commercial releases conducted by Sir Adrian Boult: the oratorio The Kingdom, Op. 51, and the Enigma Variations, Op. 36, meticulously remastered by Lani Spahr. Recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall for Elgar’s 1957 birth centenary, The Kingdom highlights Boult’s expert pacing alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Croydon Philharmonic Society, and distinguished soloists. Complementing this, a historic 1940 broadcast performance of the Enigma Variations with the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra showcases one of Boult’s finest interpretations, offering a compelling comparative view to earlier acoustic recordings in the series.

Adrian Boult (1889–1983) was an influential British conductor renowned for shaping major twentieth-century orchestras and championing modern repertoire. After musical studies in England and Leipzig, he became the founding chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1930, establishing it as a premier ensemble. Following his tenure at the BBC, he spearheaded the revival of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, serving as its principal conductor from 1950 to 1957 and maintaining a fruitful relationship with the group into his late career. Famous for premiering Gustav Holst's The Planets alongside works by Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and foreign modernists, Boult left an enduring legacy through extensive studio recordings.