Froissart, Op 19, is a concert overture by Edward Elgar, inspired by the 14th century chronicles of Jean Froissart, to which Elgar had been attracted through mention of them in Walter Scott's Old Mortality. Froissart was composed in 1890 to the commission of the Worcester Festival, for a secular concert during that year's Three Choirs Festival, and was Elgar's first large-scale work for full orchestra. Ironically, ambitious Elgar, who moved to London for his career, got major contract from his hometown. The work was finished by July, and it was first performed in Worcester, conducted by the composer, on 9 September 1890.
VIDEO: New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. The audio is accompanied by images and videos of Elgar and of the Malvern Hills in England.
