Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra - Best of British

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The BSO celebrates the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Pavilion in a special concert featuring the cream of British music from the time. Elgar’s overture (performed at the very first Pavilion concert) is an unashamedly populist portrait of ‘old London town’, complete with references to whistling errand boys, lovers strolling in the park and a marching band. Elgar described the music as “cheerful and Londony – ‘stout and steaky’”. More of London is evoked in Coates’ march made famous as the theme tune for the BBC’sIn Town Tonight, but it’s a trip to the country for two bucolic idylls by Delius and Butterworth – each a beautifully crafted gem – and rumbustious suite of English folk dances by Malcolm Arnold.

Vaughan Williams’ scintillating overture to The Wasps, after initial “buzzing” is also a spirited potpourri of attractive folk melodies, humorous and lyrical by turn, and we turn to Walton to provide the pageantry with his rousing coronation march Crown Imperialcomplete with rousing central maestoso tune, and stirring incidental music to Laurence Olivier’s film of Shakespeare’s Henry Vcomplete with noble fanfares, sombre passacaglia foretelling the death of Falstaff and delicate lullaby Touch Her Soft Lips and Part.