I've been relistening to the Naxos Elgar 1 conducted by George Hurst
(BBC Phil) and am again impressed by the stunning conducting.  A beautiful,
subtle rubato at the start, flowing & graduated Adagio and an exciting
Allegro molto.  Above all, though, the finale is thrilling.  Hurst screws
the tension keeping the beautiful theme before the coda in tempo (no
Barbirolli over-milking here!) but increasing its poignancy by encouraging
the strings to soar gloriously.  The timpani and brass at the end are
riviting.  The sound natural and full - one of the better Naxos efforts.

This CD was selected as top choice on BBC Radio 3 Building A Library 10
years ago.  Apparantly the BBC Phil was talking about the sessions months
afterwards.

This is my favourite Elgar recording besides the Slatkin/LPO Elgar 2.

Why aren't there more recordings by Gerge Hurst?  I cannot believe he
was a one-hit wonder.  What happened to his career?

All the best,

David Harbin
Nottingham, UK