Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Symphony no. 2 in E flat major, Op.63

In the second concert of the new season, maintaining the highest musical standards, the Ulster Orchestra flourish in a highly considered programme.

Where better to start the LPO's exploration of 'British' music in its Isle of Noises festival than with Sir Edward Elgar? 

The Hallé and Sir Mark Elder bring details and affection to Strauss' Don Quixote and Elgar's second symphony.

Nikolaj Znaider led The Cleveland Orchestra in two works that shared a key but were otherwise quite disparate: Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with Yefim Bronfman, and Elgar’s Second Symphony.

In the sublime funeral march of the Larghetto Elder set a daringly slow tempo, producing a cumulative, sorrowing eloquence as each LSO section tossed its melodic tribute on to the passing cortège.

Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin shine in an inescapably political programme.

BBCSSO and Richard Farnes’s special chemistry in a night of British music. Thoughtful Butterworth and noble Elgar and  Lawrence Power joined the forces for a wonderfully spirited performance of Macmillan’s Viola Concerto.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner rendered Elgar’s Second Symphony with broad, excessive, strokes, while Ann Hallenberg brought hushed intensity to Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder.

Britannia rules the waves on the LSO’s tour of Eastern Europe. 

Gardner and the Philharmonia immerse themselves in the complex emotional journey of Elgar's Second Symphony, whilst the brilliant Martin Helmchen excels in an illuminating performance of Beethoven's Second Piano Concerto.

This all-English programme artfully combined Butterworth, Elgar and Anna Clyne – three composers a century apart yet tied together by poetic association.

Strong, stirring performances from Sinaisky and the Bournemouth players offered few opportunities for reflection in a night of Beethoven and Elgar. 

Sir Mark Elder and the Halle introduce Vaughan Williams masterwork Sancta civitas to the Proms.

"Rarely, rarely, comest thou, Spirit of Delight!": Shelley's line was one of Elgar's inspiration for his Second Symphony. Rarely can it have received such an inspired performance. 

A feast of Strauss and Elgar delights all in Prom 19, featuring Vasily Petrenko, Inger Dam-Jensen, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

The announcement of this concert, bringing together Daniel Barenboim, Radu Lupu and the Berlin Staatskapelle, brought a capacity crowd to Salle Pleyel

There are few concert-going pleasures as rewarding as hearing a great conductor performing music he is clearly passionate about and inspiring those around him to ever greater heights of involvement with the music. This is what the audience at the Auckland Town Hall was treated to with Paul McCreesh and his interpretation of Elgar's Symphony no. 2 in E flat major with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. 

In last night’s Prom 51, Daniel Harding conducted the London Symphony Orchestra in a programme that was partially planned by Colin Davis and was due to be conducted by him.

This was a moving evening of relatively underrated, large-scale late romantic music, moving from Strauss’ youthful charm to the wistful eloquence of the mature Elgar.Assistant Conductor Andrew Gourlay directed Richard Strauss’ Serenade in E flat for thirteen wind instruments with closely controlled expressiveness.

Das Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks bot mit Jörg Widmanns Bratschenkonzert und Edward Elgars Symphonie Nr. 2 einen klangewaltigen Abend mit vielen musikalischen Facetten.