Deconstructing Elgar’s “Enigma” at Seattle Symphony. Solving it? No.

Philippa Kiraly — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:37:18 +0000

By the time the second half of the concert began, the large audience was able to identify which variation had the bulldog sliding down a steep slope into the fast running river and splashing his way out; which described the thunderstorm Elgar and another friend got caught in on a walk; which the high pitched giggle of one friend or the rather gloomy outlook of another.

Auburn Symphony Finds Greats Off the Beaten Track

Philippa Kiraly — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:42:55 +0000

It isn’t one of his angry works. I didn’t hear any underlying angst in it. The violin plays almost without a break through the entire half hour of the concerto, serenely above lower winds and strings in the first movement, urgent but jaunty rather than ominous in the second. The unusual passacaglia which is the third movement has more ominous portent in the orchestra while the violin floats above, and at the end is a long cadenza for the soloist which feels like more of an emotional statement than a bravura display of fireworks.

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Deconstructing Elgar’s “Enigma” at Seattle Symphony. Solving it? No.

Auburn Symphony Finds Greats Off the Beaten Track