Elgar: Enigma Variations & Organ Sonata
Keith John (organ)
CDA67363
Here is Elgar's much-loved masterpiece in a form never before recorded. Virtuoso organist Keith John has transcribed several 'masterworks' for the organ repertoire, including the Bach/Busoni Chaconne, Handel's 'Water Music', Schumann's Toccata, Musorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite—and now Elgar's 'Enigma' Variations. The idea for this recording was born when Stephen Layton, conductor of Polyphony and Master of Music at The Temple Church, telephoned excitedly after hearing Mr John play his transcription of the Variations at a lunchtime concert in the Temple Church. Stephen's message was, basically, "Fantastic! Amazing! You've got to record this." So we have, paired with the famous Organ Sonata of 1895.