Sir Edward Elgar, pictured in 1901, two years after the premiere of the Enigma Variations. [click to enlarge photo]
Sunday’s Inside the Score concert is concerned with Elgar’s ever-popular Enigma Variations. It’s frankly a relief to get to play it in its entirety, rather than playing just the Nimrod variation in the wake of a tragic event, beautiful though it may be. There are many theories as to what might be the secret theme that makes up the germ of the overt theme presented in the introduction. I was talking about this with our music director, Carlos Kalmar, during a rehearsal break on Friday, and he raised an interesting thought: that this would be a highly-respected piece of music without the Enigma, but with the Enigma, it becomes ever more fascinating to audiences. So, my question is: is the Enigma just an early attempt at viral marketing? If it is, my respect for Elgar actually goes up a couple of notches. The old boy was pretty smart.
This concert is a work horse for us, because there are four major pieces featured on it: the Enigma Variations of Elgar, big chunks of Strauss’ early tone poem Don Juan, the ethereal Nuage movement from Debussy’s magnificent Nocturnes, and a portion of Stanford’s Irish Symphony. Lots of notes, lots of different styles packed into one 90 minute concert. I’m not sure how all of these pieces fit together, but I’m going to find out, along with all of you, at the concert this afternoon. Tickets are still available here.
Oh, and Daylight Saving Time kicks in at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, so don’t forget to set your clocks forward, or you’ll miss the entire concert!!