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Naomi Wilkinson explores Elgar's musical portraits using facts and insight, fun animation and footage from the heart of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rafael Payare.

After creating a theme based on his own personality (Enigma), Elgar wrote short musical variations that reflected the people around him. One captured the quirks of a friend (6 - Ysobel), one represented the memory of another friend being caught in a thunderstorm (7 - Troyte), and one was the result of a friend's challenge to make music from the sound of his barking bulldog falling into a lake (11 - G.R.S.)! Events from our lives, the way we speak, the way we move, the things we like to do – Elgar showed that all of these can be conveyed in music.

Once you've seen the introduction film, watch the full orchestral performances of the music in the link below.