Title: vintage stuff - 5 stars plus!
Product review: This recording of the symphony was the first Boult made as principal conductor of the LPO around 1950, when he left the BBC. It has been absolutely beautifully remastered and is a glorious performance. The whole thing is wonderfully integrated and the spine-tingling, nobilmente return of the main theme at the end of the final movement seems so much a natural result of its first appearance some 40 minutes before that it is unusually touching as well as exciting. The performance is not flawless ; the LPO was finding its feet after the War and facing real financial hardship, a situation Boult's distinguished leadership did much to rectify in time. If anything - and if possible - 'In the South', which Boult went through as a young man at the composer's elbow, is even better. This CD is essential for Elgar enthusiasts, both historically and because of the intrinsic excellence of the interpretations. It earns my highest recommendation.
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