IN 1857 a son was born to Mr. Elgar, organist, violinist, and music-seller, of Worcester. Thirty years later, young Edward Elgar, past his gruelling apprenticeship, and now a master craftsman, spent a further thirteen years in proving it. And then things happened. Hans Richter taught us what to think of the "Enigma Variations; Richard Strauss told us what the Germans thought of "The Dream of Gerontius; we ourselves learnt what to think of "The Kingdom," the two Symphonies, and Falstaff; and now, on Monday night, we realise that we are to hear not so much the works of Sir Edward Elgar, Bt., O.M., Master of the King's Musick, but rather the music of Elgar, a plain citizen of Worcester, who, single-handed, set out to restore, in the eyes of Europe, the musical prestige we had lost since the days of Purcell—and he achieved this end.

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 21, 4 December 1931, Page 3

IN 1857 a son was born to Mr. Elgar, organist, violinist, and music-seller, of Worcester. Thirty years later, young Edward Elgar, past his gruelling apprenticeship, and now a master craftsman, spent a further thirteen years in proving it. And then things happened. Hans Richter taught us what to think of the "Enigma Variations; Richard Strauss told us what the Germans thought of "The Dream of Gerontius; we ourselves learnt what to think of "The Kingdom," the two Symphonies, and Falstaff; and now, on Monday night, we realise that we are to hear not so much the works of Sir Edward Elgar, Bt., O.M., Master of the King's Musick, but rather the music of Elgar, a plain citizen of Worcester, who, single-handed, set out to restore, in the eyes of Europe, the musical prestige we had lost since the days of Purcell—and he achieved this end.