It was the fallen Victorian military hero, Major-General Gordon, who provided the inspiration for Elgar鈥檚 First Symphony, although by the time it was completed the composer had abandoned the idea in favour of a piece of absolute music that stood on its own terms. Its premiere in 1908 attracted huge public interest and it didn鈥檛 disappoint: the conductor, Hans Richter, proclaimed it 鈥榯he greatest symphony of modern times鈥� and it received over a hundred performances worldwide in the following year. As is often the case with Elgar, there鈥檚 a strong sense of poignancy throughout, not least in its glorious central adagio, but its majestic sweep also proclaims the confidence of the Edwardian age and of a composer at the height of his powers. Leading British conductor Mark Wigglesworth is joined by broadcaster Stephen Johnson, who鈥檒l be shedding light on the origins and form of the First Symphony, with live extracts from the 麻豆社 Philharmonic, before a performance of the complete work.
