Music Reviews

Very British and Very Beautiful


The extremely talented Ning Feng is joined by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto in the Violin concertos of Edward Elgar (1857-1934), and Gerald Finzi (1901-1956).

Elgar’s Violin Concerto isn’t quite as well known as his Cello Concerto, but has a similar passion and beauty. It’s been said that Elgar’s pieces are like time capsules of their time and place, and I must agree. In my imagination, I am transported to the turn of the last century England in a way unlike any other composer’s music.

Finzi’s music often contains the most simple melodies; but they are melodies that convey a warmth of emotion that wraps your heart in a pretty bow, and makes the world seem like a wonderful place. Although finished in 1927, the Violin Concerto was not premiered until 1999– nearly a half-century after Finzi’s death. It turns out he was dissatisfied by the two fast movements, although no one really knows why that might be. I’ve become a big fan of Finzi’s music, and I urge you to seek it out.

These works are very British, and they are very beautiful. Luckily for us, Ning Feng, plays them with love and commitment, and the Channel Classics recording is superb.


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Written by

Bill Dodd

Bill is Senior Music Reviewer at NativeDSD. He lives in the Portland, Oregon area. He is an avid photographer too! Along with his early interest in broadcasting and high fidelity audio, he was exposed to classical music in small doses from age 5, was given piano lessons from age 9— Starting with Bach and including Gershwin. Successful morning personality in San Francisco at age 22. (true). Sang in choirs in high school and college. Although the broadcasting experience was all in popular music, his personal listening has been mostly classical his whole life—along with others including Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Joni Mitchell, The Who, and Led Zeppelin.

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