'My Beloved Country'

After 1914, Elgar and Alice through themselves into war work. In his music, Elgar's inclination to nostalgia became even more heightened as the world he knew was swept away by a conflict he could barely understand. Presented by Donald Macleod.

Elgar emerged onto the scene at a time when Britain was still described as 'a land without music'. He played a central role in reviving this country's musical reputation, and his success won him fame, honours and a place at the heart of the cultural establishment. Nevertheless, he cast himself as an outsider throughout his long career.