ERIC COATES (1886-1957): Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 - London Bridge, The Selfish Giant, Wood Nymphs, The Enchanted Garden, For Your Delight, Summer Days, Lazy Night, Calling All Workers.

Description: The program here is built around three contrasting ‘major’ works. The Suite Summer Days was premiered in October 1919, shortly after Henry Wood had fired Coates from his position as lead viola in the Queen’s Hall Orchestra. An immediate hit, the suite received rave reviews and many more performances. It was recorded in 1926, Elgar telling Coates that he had played it so often that he had worn out the album! The Selfish Giant, from 1925, based on Oscar Wilde’s story, was the first in a series of highly successful musical retellings of fairy tales. The Enchanted Garden originated in a commission from Swedish Radio. Although he described The Enchanted Garden as a ballet, Coates conceived it principally as a concert work. Composed in June and July 1938, it was premiered in a BBC radio broadcast in November that year, immediately before Coates took it on tour to Stockholm. BBC Philharmonic; John Wilson.