01. - 03. (orch. Donald Fraser): Piano Quintet in A minor, op.84* [38'25]
04. - 08. (arr. Donald Fraser): Sea Pictures, op.37 [21'04]
English Symphony Orchestra*; Rodolfus Choir, English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Woods
Avie AV2362 (recorded July 2013 & October 2015*; CD issued 2016)
(digital download; 24bit/48kHz flacs; booklet, cover and inlay scans)
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London & Elgar Hall, University of Birmingham*
Recording engineer: Simon Kiln & Simon Fox-Gal*; Producer: Donald Fraser
Elgar's Piano Quintet has always been considered to have a fairly symphonic inspiration and Donald Fraser was reputedly inspired to make this orchestration after hearing a performance by Peter Donohoe and the Maggini Quartet. (Theirs has for long been my favourite recording of the work.)
I think that his orchestration works extremely well here and to quote Andrew Achenbach for Gramophone magazine - "Fraser’s richly upholstered orchestration works a treat yet also manages to be astutely appreciative of the simmering passion and sense of loss that permeate this wistful creation (the Adagio slow movement is especially affecting)"
Unfortunately, Fraser's treatment of Sea Pictures is much less effective and his arrangement for strings alone loses much from Elgar's original score. I am happier with the choral part which is certainly more pleasant to listen to then many recent soprano recordings but still no match for Janet Baker with John Barbirolli or Alice Coote with Mark Elder. Here is an arrangement that probably wasn't needed and doesn't achieve as much as the arrangement of the Piano Quintet.
Both performances under Kenneth Woods are fine and the sound recording is sympathetic.
Download from MEGA.