Sea Pictures

Elgar, like Purcell before him, could make ordinary English poetry sound extraordinary. His song cycle Sea Pictures, first performed in 1899 and made famous by the formidable contralto Clara Butt, illustrates the point to perfection. The composer here distils the salt-spray essence of verse by five different authors (his wife and Elizabeth Barrett Browning among them), to create songs that harness the almighty power of the sea while reflecting its profound mysteries and ineffable beauty. His imagination soars in the opening “Sea Slumber Song”, appearing to hover above a nocturnal scene lulled by gentle waves. The interplay between solo voice, bearer of exquisite melodies and finely woven strands of orchestral colour sets the template for the lilting elegance of “In Haven (Capri)” and the intensity of “Sabbath Morning at Sea”, crowned by its great hymn to the creator spirit. “Where Corals Lie” emerged as the cycle’s standout hit. Its charm prepares the way for the romantic nostalgia of “The Swimmer”, a glorious tour de force for voice and orchestra.