| Elgar, Sir Edward (1857-1934) | The Wand of Youth Suite No. 2 for orchestra, Op.1b | |
| Bruch, Max (1838-1920) | Violin Concerto no. 2 in D minor, Op.44 | |
| Finzi, Gerald (1901-1956) | Intimations of Immortality |
| Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra | |
| David Hill | Conductor |
| Yossif Ivanov | Violin |
| John Mark Ainsley | Tenor |
The most extended of Finzi’s choral works,Intimations of Immortality, is composed in one continuous musical movement of truly symphonic proportions, showing off Finzi’s word-setting at its most expressive and poignant and demonstrating his personal and individual affinity with the poet Wordsworth. The variety of moods ranges from the pastoral lyricism of the opening to the jazzy and extrovert depiction of birdsong. Elgar’s suite of youthful innocence combines the best of two worlds: refreshing, teenage melodies, embellished with a 50-year-old composer’s mastery of delicate orchestration. Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1 has often been considered the richest and most seductive of the famous German violin concertos written along with those of Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Brahms. Capturing a heartfelt romantic allure with its lush and memorable themes, excellent solo writing, and impeccable pacing, it remains a favourite with soloists and audiences alike.
