Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Edward Elgar, who, despite being thought of by many as quintessentially British, always felt himself to be an outsider.

Elgar is the composer we turn to in times of national celebration, of pride (Pomp and Circumstance Marches) and of public grief (Nimrod). He mingled with royalty and was made a knight of the realm, seemingly a pillar of the Edwardian and early 20th-century British establishment. And yet, for most of his life he felt himself to be a misfit. This week of programmes explores some of the reasons for that sense of unbelonging.

In this first programme, Donald Macleod looks at Elgar's social background, how his humble beginnings as the son of a church organist, piano tuner and shopkeeper permeated through to his later life and affected his status as one of the nation's greatest composers.

Chanson du matin
Nigel Kennedy, violin
Peter Pettinger, piano

My love dwelt in a northern land
London Symphony Chorus
Vernon Handley, conductor

Serenade for Strings
I. Allegro piacevole
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor

Sea Pictures
I. Sea Slumber Song II. In Haven (Capri) III. Sabbath Morning at Sea
Alice Coote, mezzo soprano
Halle Orchestra
Sir Mark Elder, conductor

Variations on an Original Theme “Enigma”
Var.7 (Troyte) – 14 (Finale - EDU)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Vassily Petrenko, conductor

Producer: Graham Rogers Show less