Symphony No.2
Mina
Carissima
Chanson de Matin

'What’s the matter with them Billy? They sit there like a lot of stuffed pigs! Elgar commented to his friend W.H Reid, the leader of the Queen’s Hall Orchestra after the chilly reception given to the 2nd Symphony at its premiere in 1911. More emotionally complex and ambiguous than the first symphony, the 2nd seems to sense the apocalyptic events that would be unleashed just three years on. ‘be like a woman dropping a flower on a man’s grave’ wrote the composer of the ‘Spirit of Delight theme in the coda of the second movement.

The eagerly awaited Elgar 2 from Petrenko and the RLPO will delight the many fans of their recording of the 1st Symphony, released to critical acclaim last year.

'He gets Elgar...absolutely understands the beating heart of it...elegance, weight, gravitas...seriously beautiful playing...highest possible quality recording....BBC Radio 3's Record Review on Vasily Petrenko and the RLPO's Elgar 1 ONYX4145 'Our generation's great Elgarian'