EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934): Caractacus, Op. 35, Severn Suite, Op. 87 (orch. Elgar).

Description: British king fights invading Romans in Elgar’s 1898 cantata for the Leeds Festival (the next thing he wrote was the Enigma Variations). Uneven but with plenty to enjoy and some luminous orchestration, “Gramophone“ found, upon its first release, that “there can be nothing but praise for Richard Hickox's fluent sensitive direction and the enthusiastic, full-blooded backcloth provided by the LSO”. 2 CDs. Texts included. Judith Howarth (soprano), Arthur Davies (tenor), David Wilson-Johnson (baritone), Stephen Roberts, Alastair Miles (basses), London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra;  Richard Hickox. Original 1993 release.