Jacqueline du Pré - Elgar, Delius: Cello Concertos (1965) [2012 DSD Signature Collection Series]

The Signature Collection is a brand new series from EMI Classics featuring the finest catalog recordings released for the first time ever in high resolution format. The expert engineers at Abbey Road Studios who remastered the original EMI recordings for Hybrid Super Audio CD series have breathed new life into these iconic catalog recordings. Each title in the Signature Collection is beautifully presented in a full-color illustrated hardback book. The liner notes explore mot only the rich music but also the story behind original LP covers. Also included are never before seen photographs of the original master tapes.

Jacqueline du Pre's recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto with Sir John Barbirolli conducting the London Symphony Orchestra is widely recognized as the definitive recording of the Elgar, the one against which all others are measured. Du Pre's career was cut tragically short by Multiple Sclerosis, forcing her to quit performing in 1973. She died in 1987 at age 42. She was married to the famous conductor/pianist Daniel Barenboim. Du Pre was known for her aggressive playing style and flawless technique. Thanks in large measure to EMI, there are a goodly number of du Pre recordings still in circulation, some of which feature both du Pre and Barenboim. The EMI Signature Series CD being reviewed here lives up to Du Pre's advance billing as one of the most stunningly gifted musical artists of our time, and it showcases the Elgar, as, indeed it should. There is a reason this performance is famous. Du Pre's Elgar is one of those rare performances that you can listen to a thousand times and never tire of it, a truly wonderful listening experience. Not adding this CD to your library would be a major omission. – customer's review at amazon.com


Tracks:

CD 1:
01. Edward Elgar - Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85: I. Adagio - Moderato
02. Edward Elgar - Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85: II. Lento - Allegro molto
03. Edward Elgar - Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85: III. Adagio
04. Edward Elgar - Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85: IV. Allegro - Moderato - Allegro, ma non troppo
05. Edward Elgar - Sea Pictures Op. 37: I. Sea Slumber-Song (Roden Noel)
06. Edward Elgar - Sea Pictures Op. 37: II. In Haven (Capri) (C. Alice Elgar)
07. Edward Elgar - Sea Pictures Op. 37: III. Sabbath Morning at Sea (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
08. Edward Elgar - Sea Pictures Op. 37: IV. Where Corals Lie (Richard Garnett)
09. Edward Elgar - Sea Pictures Op. 37: V. The Swimmer (Adam Lindsay Gordon)


CD 2:
01. Frederick Delius - Songs of Farewell: No.1: How sweet the silent backward tracings!
02. Frederick Delius - Songs of Farewell: No.2: I stand as on some mighty eagle's beak
03. Frederick Delius - Songs of Farewell: No.3: Passage to you!
04. Frederick Delius - Songs of Farewell: No.4: Joy, shipmate, joy!
05. Frederick Delius - Songs of Farewell: No.5: Now finale to the shore
06. Frederick Delius - A Song Before Sunrise
07. Frederick Delius - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra: Lento
08. Frederick Delius - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra: Con moto tranquillo
09. Frederick Delius - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra: Lento
10. Frederick Delius - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra: Con moto tranquillo
11. Frederick Delius - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra: Allegramente

Personnel:

Jacqueline du Pré - cello
Dame Janet Baker: mezzo-soprano (Sea Pictures)
Royal Choral Society (Songs of Farewell)
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli (Disc One)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent (Disc Two)