Elgar: Violin Concerto – Thomas Bowes / Rubicon Classics | Sinfonia Arcadiana | Nic Fallowfield
There are some musical works that seem to reach directly into the human soul. Elgar’s Violin Concerto is surely one of them. A work of extraordinary emotional depth, it moves effortlessly between sweeping romanticism, introspection, tenderness and moments of almost overwhelming intensity. It is also fiendishly difficult. Elgar was a violinist of some standing in his early years.
This outstanding new recording, featuring violinist Thomas Bowes with Sinfonia Arcadiana under the direction of Nic Fallowfield, is a particularly compelling addition to the Elgar discography.
Bowes approaches this great concerto with evident affection, musical understanding and a wonderful technique. There is something especially appealing about a performance that allows Elgar’s extraordinary melodic imagination to breathe, while never losing sight of the work’s dramatic architecture. Bowes is especially good in this regard. The concerto demands much more than technical brilliance: it requires emotional maturity, sensitivity and an ability to sustain the long musical lines that make this such a deeply personal work. Bowes delivers a performance that is both captivating and thoroughly engaging. It’s also a difficult concerto to conduct and Fallowfield accompanies exceptionally well.
The concerto’s great lyrical passages are at the heart of its appeal, and the accompanying orchestra provides an important musical partnership. This is music that needs room to unfold, and the work’s contrasting moods and rich orchestral colours are central to its enduring fascination. Watching the accompanying video, I spotted several of the who’s who of London freelancers in the orchestra.
The additional works — Sospiri, Salut d’Amour, Chanson de matin, Chanson de nuit and La Capricieuse — make this an especially attractive collection. They offer a lovely opportunity to explore Elgar’s more intimate side, where his gift for melody and understated emotional expression is every bit as compelling as his grander orchestral statements. They are arranged by Bowes’ wife, the composer Eleanor Alberga.
It is also worth acknowledging the contribution of everyone involved in bringing this recording to fruition. The Rubicon presentation is attractive, and the programme makes for a satisfying musical portrait of one of England’s most beloved composers.
Ultimately, this is a recording to be savoured. Elgar’s Violin Concerto is a formidable undertaking for any violinist, and Thomas Bowes has given us a performance to be proud of.
Highly recommended. An outstanding recording of a great English masterpiece, and one that deserves a place in any serious collection of Elgar’s music.
