Search - Edward Elgar, James Judd, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra :: Elgar: Marches

Complete Recording of Elgar Marches Feather in Naxos' Cap

Darin Tysdal | Bloomington, MN 55420 | 04/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Naxos should be very proud of getting James Judd and his excellent New Zealand Orchestra on its roster. His Cd's of music of Schulthorpe and Lilburn are excellent, and so is this. I cannot give a full recommendation because I have always felt that Judd has a certain measure of reserve that works well with some music, but not so well with others. Case in point: in the First Pomp and Cirumstance March, Judd slows down just a tad bit on the trumpet tatoos before both statements of the famous tune "Land of Hope and Glory" that seems to hinder the forward movement of this march. On the other end, Yehudi Menuhin almost loses control on his recording on Virgin classics. Judd's orchestra plays flawlessly, and the organ and percussion resound vividly, although not as much on Menuhin's recording. Menuhin omits the Funeral March from Grania and Diarmid (which Rattle recorded on his wonderful recording of the Enigma Variations) and the "March of the Mogul Emperors". Instead of "Cockaigne", Judd has the underrepresented "Polonia" which is Elgar's response to a Polish commission. He quotes both Chopin and Paderewski in this 14-minute work and although not top-drawer Elgar, this piece needs to be in any Elgarian's collection. It reminds me of Paderewski's Symphony,also called "Polonia". A very recommedable release."