"Vornehm rund die rhythmischen Kanten, mehltauig weich benetzt die Streicher ... In den Tempi zügiger, in den Nebenstimmen ambitionierter, sorgt er Gardner für Verschlankung, Entrümpelung und Entspannung"

Vurdering: 4/5

"Gardner demonstrates an unerring sense of how the tricky transitions work in this piece Elgar's Second Symphony and his appreciation of its harmonic delight is self-evident. And he has seasoned instincts of the BBC Symphony Orchestra ensuring a naturalness and spontaneity through all the phrasing ... Again there is beauty and grandeur in Elgar's heroic homage to King Edward VII ... in the great slow movement ... The Serenade for Strings is a lovely, understated bonus"

"The recording quality of this Elgar disc is superb. The BBC Symphony, caught at the Watford Colosseum, exudes a depth of sound that seems to elude them in live concerts at the Barbican ... The long expanse of the first movement of the Second Symphony is gorgeous ... This is a tremendous performance that breathes nobility and confidence ... The Serenade for Strings is the perfect complement, taking a lighter emotional toll, Gardner alive to the first movement's rhythmic heartbeat. Melodies swell throughout just as they should, fresh as can be. A lovely performance"

"Orchestral choice: Edward Gardner does this stunningly well: if anything, better even than his fine account of the First Symphony"