Thomas Bowes and Eleanor Alberga on Elgar

Despite a long and successful career as a violinist, and indeed a long relationship with Elgar's music, violinist Thomas Bowes admits the composer's violin concerto had never until now been in his regular performing repertoire. For this album he finally brings those long years of experience to bear on this iconic work, as well as performing five brand-new arrangements for violin and orchestra.

Elgar's beautiful miniatures Salut d'amour, Chanson de Nuit, La Capricieuse, Sospiri and Chanson de Matin have been firm audience favourites ever since the composer's own time, and now we can hear them afresh with the piano accompaniment expanded out by Bowes's wife, the pianist and composer Eleanor Alberga.

We spoke to both Thomas and Eleanor about this programme, and how it came to be...