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"... there is a freshness to the sound that is attractive ... congratulations to all concerned, especially Lani Spahr, for this intriguing and invaluable issue, for which Elgarians everywhere have much cause to celebrate." - ClassicalSource.com "Four Stars ... (this) set takes the (Elgar) story deeper by remastering unused takes from major recordings. Lani Spahr is the technical genius behind the project ... there are many versions of parts of the Cello Concerto and other smaller works, while the sheer impact of the First Symphony in all its cleaned-up detail is overwhelming. Most touching of all is a piano and cello slow movement in which the accompanist is George V’s sister, Princess Victoria." - The Guardian This extensive four disc set contains test pressings from Elgar’s private library with stereo reconstructions and original performances. For the project, award-winning audio restoration engineer, writer and producer Lani Spahr selected hitherto unheard recordings, virtually the complete 1928 studio sessions of the Cello Concerto with Beatrice Harrison as well as many unused takes of major orchestral works and famous miniatures. This compilation provides an insight into the sessions themselves with astonishing sound, revealing a new depth not only to the existing releases but to the miniatures and, most significantly, the Cello Concerto and the Symphony No. 1 assembled from test pressings. Spahr's tenacity and restless, searching spirit allows these unique performances to be enjoyed in sonic quality unimaginable to Elgar and those who made the recordings more than 80 years ago.