BBC Symphony Orchestra (leader, Paul Beard ) : conductor Sir Adrian Boult
From the Royal Albert Hall , London
Elgar's Variations on an original theme are dedicated To my friends pictured within ', and consequently each variation is prefaced with the initial or nickname of the friend ' pictured '. Referring to this novel idea, Elgar says: It is true that I sketched for their amusement and mine the idiosyncrasies of fourteen of my friends, not necessarily musicians, but this is a personal matter, and need not have been mentioned publicly ; the Variations should stand simply as a " piece " of music '.