The Enigma of Edward Elgar​

by Roger Askew

Dear Members and Guests,

We invite you to join us for the 1st lecture of the season given by Roger Askew on ‘The Enigma of Edward Elgar​’ in the Atrium on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 20.00 hours.

One of our greatest composers, Edward Elgar was an extraordinary man.  Brought up in a provincial town, his father a piano tuner and the owner of a music shop, Elgar was completely self-taught as a musician, evidence of the strong determination behind his original and unique genius.  His path to recognition was hard and bitter.  He had to contend with the prejudices of the British musical establishment, religious bigotry (he was a Roman Catholic), and with the entrenched class-consciousness of late Victorian provincial society.  However, with his wife Alice as his staunchest supporter, from a hesitant start with pieces written for his local music societies, to cantatas celebrating Britain’s history, 'King Olaf' and 'Caractacus', he finally achieved national and international success with his 'Variations on an original theme (Enigma)' of 1899.  This work demonstrates remarkable technical mastery of form and orchestration and above all an individual and forceful personality.  He went on to create two of the greatest of the 20th century's symphonies, the magnificent oratorio 'The Dream of Gerontius' and two concertos, for violin and cello, among the finest ever written.  And of course, he expresses a vigorous patriotism in his 'Pomp and Circumstance Marches'. This lecture, illustrated with many notable musical examples, explores the development of this contradictory musician, always wracked with self-doubt, and explains how his music expresses a quintessential Englishness.
 

The will be lecturer physically present in the Atrium.  We are hoping that members and Guests will take the opportunity to come to the Atrium.  

For those unable to be present at the Atrium, this lecture will also be streamed via a Zoom to those who registered.

You are requested to sign up for the lecture beforehand, also if you are coming to join us in person at the Atrium, by clicking on the sentence at the 'How to book' section.