Beyond the Score: Elgar Enigma Variations 

Saw this LIVE. So inspiring and such a wonderful look inside the mind of Elgar. Truly an underrated and under-performed composer.

This should be required for all music majors and for anyone who thinks they understand the Victorian era.

Elgar has a noble soul and he poured it all in his music

Elgar was an amazing composer undeniably up there with Mozart and Beethoven and he wrote some of the most beautiful music you can imagine. I am currently sharing my love for Elgar's music by playing some new arrangements for violin and piano so people can appreciate the full range of his output in "Elgar Through The Years"......... Enjoy😊

These variations always move me, such is their power. There’s something in Elgar’s orchestral arrangement that stirs the soul. It’s magic.

Great production. The actors and actress were great! The "Englishness" won't be everyone's 'cup of tea' but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Elgar is a superb composer and a master of orchestration.

This is superb. Only 540 views and no comments in fifteen months? Criminal.

A fantastic achievement. Wonderfully presented by all performers supported by beautiful images and films of the Malvern Hills and the Herefordshire Beacon (or British Camp), as well as Elgar himself and some of the important houses and buildings relevant to Elgar's life, family friends, and music; and great to hear and see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under maestro Dutoit in action. The Solti/Chicago recording of this work is one of my favourite versions. Whatever the Enigma was, if there really was one - which I doubt - went with Elgar to his grave. It is often a fruitless and quite pointless exercise in trying to guess what composers mean by the music they write. It is the music of Elgar - a self-taught master of orchestration - that stands the true test of time. That's why we listen to this wonderfully original masterpiece and the rest of Elgar's music. It always touches the soul if you let it. Bravo to all concerned.

Arguably the finest set of variations for Orchestra ever composed.....every little gesture seems related to the first few bars of the Theme....it is uncanny!

Outstanding.

I thought that this is most beautifully done. In fact, I was brought close to tears by it, at times

Such inexpressible love and tenderness translated into the most sublime music. What a soul Elgar had.

This was so impressive! I have deeply loved this piece of music for close to 50 years now. Music of such profound affection and love. I have read much about the Enigma, so I was astonished at the wealth of new revelations revealed through the letters and diaries of Alice, Elgar, Dorabella, Jaeger, etc. To actually hear of the specific context and moment portrayed in the Nimrod variation! Absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for posting!

0:20 yes, haha...something I often say...you can't establish a piece of art is good, it's subjective, each person will have their own opinion...

Beautiful eternal never aging

brilliant presentation!

The slight change in the female violinist's face when she plays Nimrod - a memory perhaps? Or just moved by the deep, deep beauty

Recently someone suggested that the missing theme is the opening of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. I think we have a winner!

An entertaining addition to an enduring concert piece, given by a first rate orchestra and supporting forces.

Très intéressant ... surtout pour travailler cette oeuvre !

After having learned all this fabulous story I have explained to my mind why I was bewitched since the very first time I listened this Master Piece by Sir Edward Elgar.

Thank you very much for sharing this, it was truly enthralling!

Wonderful, finally, it's no longer quite so enigmatic! But then again......

Simply amazing. Superb

great! can you possibly add more from this great series, especially the Miraculous Mandarin.

The mystery theme is Through the Wood, Laddie. I know someone who knows most of the string players in the CSO, but, that's irrelevant.

Fantastic job...so interesting to hear and see the backstory. Well done!

fascinating

When you click "Show more" under 'Music in this video' it states that the artists are the London Philharmonic and Sir Adrian Boult. Yet the video reveals the players to be Charles Dutoit and the Chicago Symphony. Does no-one at the CSO realize that as a result of this claim, Orchard Music are raking in royalties for Regis Records based on the number of views this video receives? They should dispute the claim and have it removed, as it is completely fraudulent!

At approximately 3:33 in the presentation the narrator divulges the covert Theme to the Enigma Variations: “A Mighty Fortress.” To learn more about the secrets of the Enigma Variations, visit enigmathemeunmasked.blogspot.com/2012/09/table-of-contents.html?m=0

twinkle twinkle little star

When was this recorded?

Does anyone know who the actors are?

Some interesting elisions here - we're told Mrs Fitton "gave up" her piano career to raise a family, weirdly skating over the fact that in the patriarchal society of Elgar's time, she wouldn't have had much choice about giving about her career after getting married.

Enigma Dechipred

Ok transpose Britannia Rules the waves Never Never shall be slaves we will never know the hidden melody ....