Bernard Haitink’s straightforward Enigma Variations makes a decent impression. The conductor’s safe-bet tempos and smooth, uninflected phrasing certainly won’t ruffle any feathers. Nimrod moves along with the requisite sense of nobility, and Haitink’s ending (which includes the organ) does generate excitement, but not on the level of Mackerras, Slatkin, Andrew Davis, or Monteux, each of whom offers more imaginative and incisive readings. Haitink also makes nice with Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, while the London Philharmonic offers alert, fastidious playing.
However, the real interest of this disc is Britten’s early masterpiece Our Hunting Fathers. Haitink leads a compelling rendition of the work, which brilliantly captures the mood and atmosphere of the W.H. Auden poems. Heather Harper’s solid and emotive rendition of the challenging solo part (she’s required to imitate orchestra sounds in Dance of Death) makes a strong impact, while on this occasion the London Philharmonic’s playing exudes precision and power. The live recordings, from 1979-1986 are variable, with the Elgar items having greater presence and clarity.
