Has a tune ever stuck in your head and refused to leave? When this happened to composer Edward Elgar, his beloved wife encouraged him to put the tune to paper. After a good deal of play and exploration, that music became the “Enigma” variations, an inventive 14-piece suite that Elgar is best known for even today. Guest conductor Michael Sanderling returns to conduct this program that features music by UK composers, beginning with James MacMillan’s Larghetto, an orchestral version of his own Miserere. William Walton’s theatrical Balshazzar’s Feast, featuring the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, tells the story of the brazen King of Babylon, the captivity of the Israelites, and a triumphant conclusion with the help of the hand of fate.

How you’ll feel: curious, intrigued, caught up in the drama

What to listen for:

The most famous of the “Enigma” Variations is almost certainly “Nimrod,” whose sentimental music often appears at funerals and other somber occasions. The word “Nimrod” means “hunter,” and the variation is a nod to Elgar’s friend A. J. Jaeger, whose last name also translates to “hunter.”
In fact, “Nimrod” may already be familiar to you, from its appearances in films such as Dunkirk and The Matrix. Hear one cinematic version here.
Spoilers ahead: one of the most dramatic moments from Walton’s Balshazzar’s Feast is the moment when the King of Babylon falls and the chorus shouts “Slain!”

Enigma Variations

Start Time

conductor

baritone

Milwaukee Symphony Chorus

chorus director

James MacMillan

Elgar

Walton

CONCERT DETAILS

ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE

MEET THE MUSIC

Food & Beverage Service featuring Staccato Bites

MEET THE MUSIC

Food & Beverage Service featuring Staccato Bites

MEET THE MUSIC

Food & Beverage Service featuring Staccato Bites

Support

Start Time

conductor

baritone

Milwaukee Symphony Chorus

chorus director

James MacMillan

Elgar

Walton