At its very reasonable price, especially for a CD, this transfer of Vernon Handley's 1979 recording of Elgar's First Symphony will appeal to many tastes and pockets. It is a straightforward, direct interpretation, faithful without being slavish to the letter of the score, and recorded with admirable clarity and spaciousness. Just a little stodgy in the bass, I would say, but then I am in a very small minority in finding the whole performance itself just a bit stodgy—nothing one can put a finger on but just a feeling (my feeling, I hasten to add) that Handley does not quite light up the LPO's playing as I'm sure he meant to. On the other hand, I take much delight in the way he does light up certain details of orchestration, in particular Elgar's wonderful writing for the woodwind, especially the clarinets. Stress is always laid on Elgar's understanding of strings, but his woodwind sound is just as much his own, right from his 20s and those wind quintets. Don't let my minimal reservation put you off an excellent bargain.'