Enigma Variations

A lovely tribute, Elgar’s Enigma Variations was an early version of what we now might call a mixtape. Elgar turned each movement into a tender portrait of a personal friend, and these powerful and emotional tokens of friendship have become extraordinarily popular. The “Nimrod” variation is often used as a song of national mourning and was played at Princess Diana’s funeral. Under the direction of conductor Vinay Parameswaran, the Cleveland Orchestra performs the piece at 7 tonight at Blossom. Check the orchestra website for ticket prices.