Sir Andrew Davis and his forces, especially Sarah Connolly and Andrew Staples (why is this wonderful tenor so little recorded?), give their all and one can’t imagine their being performed more nobly, to use Elgar’s favourite term.

There’s a wholly idiomatic sensibility, collaborative zeal and unity of vision that mark out this sumptuously engineered Chandos newcomer as something rather special…Connolly’s delivery of the closing lines distils an aching intimacy not matched since Janet Baker’s sublime contribution on Boult’s recording…Davis’s glorious pliant conducting evinces total conviction…Staples makes an ardent showing…This meaty choral pairing has already given me a lot of pleasure and earns the warmest plaudits.

Very worthwhile contributions to the centenary of the end of World War I...The prime recommendation for each of these important Elgar scores.

The First World War-inspired Spirit of England seems to me to transcend Laurence Binyon’s verse. Davis clearly believes in it and rouses his forces to splendid effect.

This is a stimulating and satisfying release.

Exemplary readings of some lesser-known Elgar pieces.