ELGAR: Symphony No. 1, “In the South.”...

ELGAR: Symphony No. 1, “In the South.” London Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Slatkin. RCA Victor Red Seal 60380-2-RC. Slatkin continues on his prolific course through the symphonic repertory with another well-played, well-recorded, interpretively uninteresting disc. Basically, the symphony lumbers along with little rhythmic point or graceful shaping, although Slatkin does manage to make some expressive gestures in the Adagio. Elgar’s tone poem “In the South” also comes out bland, lacking real urgency in the opening and closing sections.