Elgar: The Wand Of Youth Suites – Mark Elder

   in Classical Music (Nov, 2018)
What a lovely idea to collate Elgar’s musical tributes to youth on one disc. Elder’s Elgar is one of the conductor’s many strengths, and he brings a light, often gossamer touch to the Hallé, an orchestra which under his guidance now plays like a dream.

The Wand of Youth Suites move from the impetuous to the gloriously warm- toned (‘Menuet (Old Style)’); and it is surely impossible not to fall under the spell of ‘Fairy Pipers’.

The caressingly blissful peace of ‘The Serious Doll’, blisteringly interrupted by the ferocity of ‘Busy-ness!’, gives an idea of the variety encountered in the Nursery Suite. Lyn Fletcher is a sweet-toned soloist in ‘Envoy’, the …