Here's one for my friends in the UK, who've recently been through the most tumultuous general election in years! There is no better way to soothe emotions and bring the masses back together then with great music conducted by Sir Adrian Boult.
I've assembled a program of England's best through three centuries. Handel's Water Music is performed by the "Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra" on a Westminster release while Elgar's Three Bavarian Dances and Arnold's English Dances are from a London issue with the more familiar London Philharmonic name of the Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra. All recordings date from the mid 50's.
Boult's Handel is very, very well done. Though performed by a larger body of strings then we are now accustomed to, everything is done so....tastefully...yes, that's the word... that any thoughts of period instrumentation etc..are quickly forgotten. Beautiful playing and Boult moves the music in just the "right" way. Elgar's Bavarian Dances are tossed off with aplomb; lilting, playful, sparkling with sunshine and rustic peasant humor. The first dance always reminds me so, so much of Dvorak. It's really delightful. Arnold's English Dances are marvelous miniatures; tuneful and simply virtuostic for the orchestra. If you do not know them, you'll love them on first hearing. It doesn't get any better than this.
