Title: Elgar: Symphony No.1 Symphony No.2 Serenade Cockaigne Overture - 2 CD Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) was England's greatest composer since the death of Henry Purcell in 1695. He was a relatively late developer with his first major symphonic work, the Enigma Variations (1898-99), being produced when he was already in his forties. After a successful first performance in London the work was given performances all over Europe and in New York, where it was conducted by Gustav Mahler. Each of the 14 variations is dedicated to, and is a portrait of, a friend of the composer, the finale being a picture of the composer himself. Elgar wrote two very fine symphonies that unerringly captured the zeitgeist of Edwardian England; both are included in this set in superb performances by Bernard Haitink. The first disc ends with two additional Elgar pieces performed by the late lamented Richard Hickox Titles   CD1 1. Symphony No. 1 in A flat Op. 55: I. Andante: nobilmente e semplice 2. Symphony No. 1 in A flat Op. 55: II. Allegro molto 3. Symphony No. 1 in A flat Op. 55: III. Adagio 4. Symphony No. 1 in A flat Op. 55: IV. Lento - Allegro 5. Pomp and Circumstance No. 5 in C major Op. 39 No. 5 6. Sospiri Op. 70 City of London Sinfonia 7. Serenade in E minor Op. 20: I. Allegro piacevole 8. Serenade in E minor Op. 20: II. 9. Serenade in E minor Op. 20: III. Allegretto CD2 1. Symphony No. 2 in E flat Op. 63: I. Allegro vivace e nobilmente 2. Symphony No. 2 in E flat Op. 63: II. Larghetto 3. Symphony No. 2 in E flat Op. 63: III. Rondo (Presto) 4. Symphony No. 2 in E flat Op. 63: IV. Moderato e maestoso 5. Cockaigne (In London Town) - Concert Overture Op. 40 London