2 - Elgar: The Man Behind The Mask

With his noble bearing, stiff upper lip and imperial moustache, Edward Elgar (the composer of Land of Hope and Glory) is often seen as the epitome of Edwardian England. But this image was deliberately contrived, and far from reality. In this revelatory portrait of a musical genius, John Bridcut explores the secret conflicts in Elgar's heart which produced some of Britain's greatest music. The film links the music to his complicated personal relationships, and reveals new information about his love affair as an old man with a young woman violinist who was forty years younger.  Contributors include Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Mark Elder, Edward Gardner and Natalia Luis-Bassa.