My great grandfather was a very close friend of Elgar and this piece was dedicated to him. So nice to come upon this lovely performance!

I absolutely love the viola. There should be much more music featuring the viola written and played. The musician playing the viola in this pice is fabulous.

This really slaps. Elgar smashes it again. What a kickass recording from these guys!

What a rich, lovely sound from a less than large ensemble. The hall accoustics are clearly very good, but the playing is sumptuous and gets the feel of this wonderful work by Elgar absolutely right.

i have known this piece for half a century. I loved the wonderfully transparent texture of this skimmed down version . I could hear so much going on that was swamped by a big orchestra. A lovely idea to have the quartet of soloists/leaders in the front. An inspiring performance.

We Brits are always chuffed when foreigners have a bash at our beloved Elgar. Especially when they play the music so spectacularly well as this. Thanks and many congratulations.

I have heard this wonderful piece so often -Boult, Barbirolli, many famous performances, live and on record - and I've also played in performances. This exceptional account made me hear it afresh. Like Willynn Mcl, I was very much moved by the quartet violist's playing of the little Welsh tune that Elgar used so effectively, but that just set the tone for everything that followed ; it was all just right. Ensemble is perfect, as is balance - you hear all the leading voices in the fugue, but never at the expense of other voices, it's all there - tempi are just fine, and the overall sound is full and beautiful, even though this is quite a small group (no doubt the hall acoustic and microphoning have something to do with that, but that's fine). It's lovely too - though this is not a musical point - to see such an apparently cosmopolitan group, with reasonably balanced male/female personnel - performing Elgar ; it nice to see that he has reached this level of internationalism. Anyway, I have not enjoyed a performance as much as this for many years, if, perhaps, ever. It's good to see such a large number of 'likes' and not one 'dislike' - who could possibly dislike this?

THIS IS THE BEST RECORDING I'VE HEARD OF WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE ELGAR'S GREATEST WORK F.J.BECK

I am a great Elgarian and have known this piece for forty years, It has never been a favourite of mine. You wonderful players have opened my eyes to its greatness for the first time. Thank you.

It's a performance that stopped me in my tracks - everyone is playing out of their skin, and the result is just pulsating with energy

I haven't heard this piece played with so much rubato and tempo variation before - but you know, I like it!

This wonderful piece is one of the world's Classical Music Masterpieces. Brilliantly played and a great recording

My tears flowed when the solo viola played the theme in E flat and again in the same passage in D major later on. I was also greatly moved by the G major section all the way to the end. Thank you so much for giving me such enormous ecstasy!!!!

Such a wonderful and at times, threatening piece of music. The theatre of this performance entirely apposite. What a masterpiece, what a treat.

There is a story probably apocryphal that Elgar's heard the strains of the viola theme carried on the wind from the Welsh border whilst walking in the Malvern Hills. True or not it can only add to the wonderful "outdoor" quality of this beautiful music in this lovely performance. The Introduction and Allegro was used to great effect in the 1962 film Portrait of a Composer made by Ken Russell for the BBC arts programme Monitor. I have loved it ever since.

This is my first encounter with the work and the group. What a group! The piece is exquisite, and they play it exquisitely. Also, kudos to the audio engineer for the clarity and warmth of the sound. A wonderful, listening experience.

Moved to tears by this wonderful performance of my favourite piece of music. The vivacity of this young orchestra and the skill and enthusiasm with which they played was truly inspiring. Thank you so much for 15 minutes of sheer delight in these dark times.

The power of music! Healing, inspiring, uplifting, fulfilling.

A fine, sensitive, spirited performance of a very special piece I've loved since I was introduced to it as a teenager 50 years ago. It's breezy, active, happy music, and brings me images of Elgar striding across his beloved Malvern Hills with the wind in his hair, three counties at his feet and music rushing in his brain.

Wonderful !

I first heard this piece in Ken Russell's lovely film about Elgar produced for the BBC in the 1960s. I've listened to it countless times since ... but none match this performance. Simply, ... the best !

I have loved this music for many years. Very happy to see such a marvelous video of it!

That's so good!

Lovely, engaging, lively performance. I much enjoyed this.

God I love this music! Well done.

Outstanding !

Great rendition!

Great performance and recording.Thank you!

FANTASTIC Far Cry and what a Masterwork,my fave Elgar piece along with Enigma.

Great, Wonderful.

Wonderful Wonderful hats off to every great artist.

Marvelous

Imagine seeing this live!

BEAUTY

You are superb!

WOOOO KARL!!!

I remember the very first time I heard this wonderful piece of music. I was travelling across the North Yorkshire Moors with my partner. He switched on the radio, and this was the music that was playing. For me, it signifies the very essence of our beautiful country. This has got to be one of the very best performances. I'm crying now remembering how happy we were that day.

A very well worked out and carefully crafted performance. Beautiful performance full of emotions and beautiful sound quality. Ronald Masin.

Bravissimo!

This music evokes in me that I've lost something irreplaceable; something is missing but I don't what it is. I think it's probably called nostalgia but nostalgia for what? The 'missing' makes me feel melancholic. This Band is in tune with these feelings better than most. The performance is beautiful.

너무 좋아요~~@@

Very engaging.

Tremendous emotion and care all at once. Thanks. I heard the NY Philharmonic perform this gem this past summer. And your performance brought the same chills. Marvelous page here. Keep up the marvelous artistry, all.

A magnificent performance of what I consider the greatest piece of string music, all the more impressive for managing it without a conductor!

I love the music of Elgar so much. I did not know this piece, it is beautiful, thank you for posting.

너무 좋아요~😊

Splendid. Riveting performance. So glad I picked your video out of the crowd.

Superb playing. I love the "spring" in the music when they play standing.

Oh! Magnificent. Thank you for transporting me to the Malvern Hills! with your sensitive and enthusiastic playing. Theme re-capitulation in G towards the end is finest interpretation of that section I've heard in a long time. Thank you for posting.

A wonderful performance, perfectly paced. Several performances I have heard over the years have been too fast or slow, but this was perfect and very emotional. Thank you.

Hello, Thank you very much for this beautiful concert ! Best wishes ! Jean-Charles Bourquin, in France

A beautiful performance. You sound like a larger ensemble. Possibly because you have respect for this piece. This is a virtuoso piece for every player. It requires stamina. One of the most remarkable string compositions ever written. Well done to you all. From a Worcestertonian

En écoutant bien cette exceptionnelle musique d'Elgar, il me semble que celle ci a rayonné son influence jusque dans celle de Heïtor Villa Lobos , à la fois dans le rythme et au coeur de certaines mélodies...

🙏

Our school played this. Amazing song.

from their HP The Grammy-nominated string orchestra A Far Cry has developed a distinct approach to music-making, with playing and programming that encourage risk-taking and exploration for both player and audience. Known for its high energy, A Far Cry “brims with personality or, better, personalities, many and varied” (New York Times). Since its founding in 2007, A Far Cry has fostered those personalities. The self-conducted orchestra is a democracy in which decisions are made collectively and leadership rotates among the players (“Criers”). This structure has led to consistently thoughtful, innovative, and unpredictable programming - and impactful collaborations with celebrated performers and composers. Boston Musical Intelligencer sums up the group: “In its first decade, this conductor-free ensemble has earned and sustained a reputation for top-drawer playing, engrossing programming, and outstanding guest artists.” A Far Cry’s omnivorous approach has led to collaborations with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Roomful of Teeth, the Silk Road Ensemble, Vijay Iyer, and David Krakauer. A Far Cry’s eleventh season in 2017-18 reflects the group’s ambition and creativity, continuing along a path the Boston Globe describes as “moving ever forward.” The season includes 15 Boston-area appearances as part of the group’s long-standing residency at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and its own subscription series. The group makes debut appearances at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre and Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York, Washington Performing Arts, Toronto’s Royal Conservatory, and Duke Performances. Recent tour highlights include two new commissioning projects: Philip Glass’ third piano concerto with soloist Simone Dinnerstein (with an album scheduled for release in May, 2018 on Glass’ Orange Mountain Music), and The Blue Hour, “a gorgeous and remarkably unified work” (Washington Post) written by a collaborative of five leading female composers - Rachel Grimes, Angélica Negrón, Shara Nova, Caroline Shaw, and Sarah Kirkland Snider; and featuring Grammy-winning singer Luciana Souza. A Far Cry also performed as part of composer Matthew Aucoin’s “taut, inspired opera” (New York Times), Crossing at BAM. A Far Cry’s Crier Records launched auspiciously in 2014 with the Grammy-nominated album Dreams and Prayers. The label’s second release, Law of Mosaics, was included on many 2014 Top 10 lists, notably from New Yorker music critic Alex Ross and WQXR’s Q2 Music, which named A Far Cry as one of the "Imagination-Grabbing, Trailblazing Artists of 2014.” In fall 2018, Crier Records releases A Far Cry’s Variations and Visions, featuring music by Britten, Mozart, and Prokofiev. The 18 Criers are proud to call Boston home, and maintain strong roots in the city, rehearsing at their storefront music center in Jamaica Plain and fulfilling the role of Chamber Orchestra-in-Residence at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Collaborating with local students through an educational partnership with the New England Conservatory and Project STEP, A Far Cry aims to pass on the spirit of collaboratively-empowered music to the next generation.

I never knew Elgar music is so beautiful. Performance is awesome. They touch the deepest parts of the human soul. I will wait when this orchestra is in Toronto.

12:05 ♥️

Megumi!!!!!!!!!

My high school is performing this at the Midwest Clinic; this really helps as I am playing the viola solo... thanks much

👍

神

Elgar is conducting

感覺像挖到寶了 ! 雖然速度比有些版本慢了一點,但感覺很有氣氛 ! 錄音也是一大賣點,除了幾聲咳嗽的裝飾音外😅

Indeed one of Elgar's best pieces. An essay in writing for strings. One can sense many moods and it gives an interesting glimpse of the complex person Elgar was. The performance isn't as articulate as I would wish. I guess I like a fuller body of strings.

Are you coming to NYC anytime in the near futures?

7:44

After listening to this for a second time, may I make a suggestion or two? I suggest "Romance for viola and orchestra" by Bruch, and "Viola concerto in G major" by Telemann.

5:26

1:48

8:50 7:51

I like the sound of the female viola player

it's it a requirement to rock back and forth b/c I don't do that when I play my violins... should I be rocking like that? my violins are electric and very loud? be love.. evolve... iAndroid

13:10

WEST ANCIENT HISTORY < NEXT

Is there a way that I can buy or download a better-quality recording of this performance on CD or DVD? In some parts KZfaq's lossy sound compression noticeably messes up the audio and detracts a bit from the awesome sound of this performance. I performed this piece in an orchestra last weekend but A Far Cry's rendition is so much more convincing that I can't stop listening to this instead of my own orchestra's recording!

Minute 7:39

@9:25 that was gangsta

Who was the engineer on this recording?

Who is playing ?

Area All State anyone?

Hello my name is Ikser Mijares. congratulations for such an excellent string orchestra. I am a Venezuelan composer and I have works for strings that I would like to share with you.

Haha, that one violinist with the ridiculous body motions. Great sound, but had to purposefully ignore that.

NOBLE

I played this in 7th grade. Lmao so ez

Magnificent acoustic and the violist in the quartet is very good. But they enjoyed the acoustic too much. Elgar's friend, Richard Strauss, a very great and penetrating conductor, who wrote at the end of his life a very different piece for a string ensemble of around that size, would have been asking them not to put accuracy so high on their list of priorities but to "give an impression" of the music - and had they done so things would have been riskier, but but a bit closer to Elgar's conception.

7:43

7:41