Cockaigne
This is Elgar's musical portrait of life in turn-of-the-century London. Premiered in 1901, it brilliantly captures the atmosphere with cheeky cockneys, dignified squares, lovers in the park, city churches, and all the pomp & ceremony of a military band precession. The work was an immediate success, not only in Britain (where Hans Richter was an early champion) but also in Germany and the USA. This is a lively, colourful and varied piece. It continues to be performed regularly.