Although he's widely regarded today as one of Britain's greatest composers, Elgar struggled to attain popularity and then lived to see it dwindle. Donald Macleod finds out why.

Elgar is the composer we turn to in times of national celebration, pride and public grief. 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, an outsider. This week of programmes explores some of the reasons for that sense of unbelonging.

Elgar worked hard to overcome many adverse factors and achieve his great success. His reward was an Edwardian heyday as the nation's best-loved composer. But he lived to see interest in his music fade away, and his Edwardian values become outdated.

Nursery Suite
I. Aubade; VI. The Merry Doll
English Chamber Orchestra
Paul Goodwin, conductor

Violin Sonata in E minor
III. Allegro non troppo
Renaud Capucon, violin
Stephen Hough, piano

Cello Concerto in E minor
Steven Isserlis, cello
Philharmonia Orchestra
Paavo Jarvi, conductor

Pomp and Circumstance March No.5 in C
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Norman Del Mar, conductor

Producer: Graham Rogers Show less