Elgar is always a composer sure to be popular, and what I love about this particular reocording of Solti is that it starts with the lesser known In the South Overture, also known as ‘Alassio’. Having never heard it before I was astounded at the beauty and overly romantic style. If you like soaring orchestral melodies and repertoire that run the full gamut of emotions, this is the work for you. After that work of such power, you have the more understated, but no less lovely, Symphony No 1. There is shaping in every phrase of this recording, and it very easy to see why it has stood the test of time and is being re-released under the Decca Virtuoso series.