A unique insight into Sir Edward Elgar’s life, work and legacy was presented on Saturday 13 March when Julian Lloyd Webber, President of the Elgar Society, joined Steven Halls (Chairman, Elgar Society) for an afternoon of conversation before a capacity audience at the Elgar Birthplace Museum in Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire.

Below is a report on the event.

Conversation with Julian Lloyd Webber Fills Elgar Museum

Before a full house at the Elgar Birthplace Museum in Lower Broadheath, Worcester, cellist and musical ambassador Julian Lloyd Webber joined Elgar Society Chairman Steven Halls for a Saturday afternoon of light conversation peppered by musical extracts.

President of the Elgar Society since last May, Julian Lloyd Webber treated the audience to a rare - and entertaining - insight into the lifestyle of an international musician. 'Never get behind a cellist at the check-out desk' was his advice to those trying to travel by air!

The conversation opened with reminiscences of a childhood home 'full of music' and reflected on the young Julian's decision - when aged just four - to give up the piano in favour of the cello. He emphasised the importance of good teachers in a musician's development whilst cautioning that the 'best performers are not always the best teachers', and when asked whether he had ever considered a life away from music, he confessed to harbouring an eclectic array of ambitions, from driving underground trains to playing for Leyton Orient.

From the conversation, it was apparent that Julian always viewed himself as a solo performer rather than an ensemble player. In following this path, he has successfully explored the cello repertoire through a diversity of recordings and performances - particularly highlighting works by British composers like Delius, Ireland, Walton and Britten - whilst steering the development of new music for the cello through his work with such contemporary composers as Michael Nyman, James MacMillan, John McCabe and Philip Glass.

The talk was broken with extracts from some of Julian Lloyd Webber's own favourite works, including his recordings of the 2nd movement of the Miaskovsky Cello Concerto, the opening bars of concertos by Rodrigo and Glass and the closing moments of the Delius Cello Concerto. Given the context of the conversation, however, thoughts of Elgar were never very far away, and the sound of Lloyd Webber playing the first movement of the Elgar Cello Concerto brought the event to a close.

'In Conversation with Julian Lloyd Webber' was organised by the West Midlands branch of the Elgar Society and took place in the Carice Elgar Room at the Elgar Birthplace Museum. All net proceeds have been donated to the museum. The closing thanks to both Julian Lloyd Webber and to Steven Halls were given by John Harcup and Richard Smith - respectively Chairman and Secretary of the society's West Midlands branch.

The Elgar Society was formed in 1951 to encourage the study, performance and appreciation of the works of Sir Edward Elgar and to foster research into his life and music. Branches around the UK and overseas bring members together through meetings, lectures, recitals and visits, with members' individual and collective research continuing to contribute significantly to a greater understanding of Elgar and his legacy.